While cricket returned at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, courtesy of a new T20 tournament launched by Bangladesh Cricket Board as part of their initiative to compensate the national cricketers after deciding to withdraw from the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup citing security reasons, an awkward silence prevails at SBNS, popularly known as home of Bangladesh cricket.

It is not surprising given that it is not expected to be buzzing with cricketing activities following their exclusion from the ICC T20 World Cup - something that came as a shock for the whole cricketing fraternity - and many feel it will not be easy for the cricketers to leave behind the disappointment.

The whole country was expecting Litton Kumar Das' team to step up and make a mark at the marquee event, especially after their strong preparation that included winning five of the six T20I series they played in 2025 ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. Instead, as things stand, the nation's cricketing circle finds itself staring at an uncertain reality.

In the recent past, different developments that took place in Bangladesh cricketing landscape only suggest that it is turning from bad to worse with passing days.

Cricbuzz tries to analyze:

National team

The cricketers of the Bangladesh national cricket team are expected to be busy with the newly launched T20 tournament, though it is not sure why BCB opted to choose the shortest format considering Bangladesh is expected to play ODIs and Tests following the World Cup.

"It's a government decision," a BCB official said when his attention was drawn regarding the format of the tournament that was launched to give some game time.

The insecurity is creeping among the national stars following the board's decision to skip the T20I World Cup as many felt that it will hamper their growth as cricketers.

"Why Hobart Hurricanes in BBL picked Rishad [Hossain]? It is not because of how he performed in the BPL or DPL but because of his performance in the last World Cup," said a national star on request of anonymity.

"If we want to attract franchises we need to perform in the World Cup because not too many cricketers are featuring in different franchise-based T20 cricket," he said.

"So it is just not that we are playing in the T20 World Cup, for some of us it is pathway for entering different franchise-based T20 tournament," he said.

Another cricketer added that they are also not sure whether the whole episode will have an impact on their sponsorship market.

"Let's see how our sponsors react considering your biggest promotion comes during the ICC events as it is followed by so many fans both at home and away and across TV and different apps," he added.

It is understood that national cricketers are keeping their eyes fixed on the future as they feel they can only understand the impact of not playing the World Cup in the coming days. Some of them remained sceptical about the bilateral series that is pencilled into the FTP as many feel it would not be surprising if some countries decide not to keep their commitments to show their loyalty towards BCCI.

Domestic cricket

Bangladesh's domestic cricket is going through an all-time low in recent years. For the majority of the country's cricketers, their livelihood depends on playing across different tiers of Dhaka-based club cricket. However, several teams opted out of the First and Second Division leagues in protest against the current regime led by Aminul Islam, claiming the election process was unfair. There is also uncertainty over whether all teams will participate in the upcoming Dhaka Premier League, the country's traditional List A tournament.

For national cricketers and emerging talents alike, the DPL occupies a special place. It remains a primary source of income and a crucial pathway to national selection, with selectors closely tracking performances to identify players for the national side, the A team, the HP team, and other representative squads.

"It will be a huge blow if DPL suffers a similar fate like some other leagues where teams declined to participate," a frustrated national middle-order batter said.

BPL

The BCB launched a new five-year cycle of the BPL with the recently concluded edition of the country's only franchise-based T20 tournament. However, the season was not without controversy, as the owner of the Chattogram Challengers pulled out at the eleventh hour, forcing the board to step in and take over the franchise.

While the number of fixing issues was reduced substantially, courtesy activities of the Alex Marshal-led integrity unit, there were still a couple of incidents that raised eyebrows as the BCB announced a probe against a team management member of Noakhali Express. Meanwhile, the BCB audit committee chairman Mokhleshur Rahman is under investigation after it was reported he was involved in fixing scandal.

Furthermore, the BPL once again drew unwanted attention over non-payment issues, with several players across franchises complaining that they are yet to receive payments as per their contracts.

"Players will receive their payments," BPL member council secretary Iftekhar Rahman said when his attention was drawn to the matter.

Women's cricket

So far in 2026, the only bright spot in Bangladesh cricket has been the national women's team qualifying for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in England in June. The achievement is particularly noteworthy given it came amid widespread negativity and uncertainty surrounding women's cricket in the country.

However, unease continues to linger within the women's cricketing circle after the BCB announced it had engaged its legal team to act on the inquiry committee's findings, in line with the board's zero-tolerance policy on harassment and misconduct. The committee found prima facie evidence of inappropriate conduct by the then selector and team manager Monjurul Islam in relation to Jahanara Alam's sexual assault allegations.

With the BCB yet to spell out the specific action it plans to take, it remains to be seen whether the board will follow through against the accused or if this will simply add to its long list of assurances.

"I think the board should take the responsibility of the whole incident and now need to make sure they amend their shortcomings through taking proper action against the accused," said an official working with women's cricket in Bangladesh.

"In that case women cricketers would be assured that if they are harassed, board will be beside them and do whatever is required to make sure that the wrongdoers don't go unpunished," he said.

How the Board is running at the moment

Discussion within Bangladesh's cricketing fraternity is largely centred on the future of Aminul Islam Bulbul's board, with many believing significant reshuffling is likely in the boardroom following the general election scheduled for February 12.

The resignation of Istiak Sadek, one of the board's most influential directors, on January 24 has already sparked considerable debate, with many believing that despite his claim of being unable to devote sufficient time, other underlying issues may have played a role.

Few other directors are also not sure how the board is being run while some of them are contemplating quitting sooner than later as they feel the board has failed to live up to expectations.

Furthermore, Aminul's rise to the board was backed by the Professor Yunus-led government, but whether he will continue to enjoy the same support if a new political party comes to power remains a significant question.

According to several cricket pundits, Aminul's inability to convince the government about the importance of the World Cup, which Bangladesh ultimately skipped, is viewed as one of his biggest failures. It is something he could pay dearly for after the election, with expectations that he will face heavy criticism for a decision that disappointed everyone from cricketers to fans and denied them participation in the World Cup.

With no cricket being played at present, fingers are being pointed at Aminul's ambitious projects, with many questioning whether it is meant to serve the game or generate profit, especially given the scale of financial transactions expected to be involved.

"I think this board will be remembered for its seminars and classes more than anything else and for all the ambitious projects like the triple century, but in reality our cricketers are changing their profession as they are not sure about their future," a cricket organizer, who is closely associated with domestic cricket, told Cricbuzz.

"You feel all is well because national team players are well but that is not the case because lower tier cricketers are going through tough times and these cricketers after performing in different tiers eventually end up knocking the door of national selection panel," he added.

How the BCB navigates its multiple crises remains to be seen, but one thing appears certain: unless issues are addressed at both the international level and within the domestic circuit, the board will struggle to keep things running in the days ahead. That, in turn, could force Aminul and some of his close associates, who currently call the shots in the newly elected board, to step aside, if nothing else.