Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Participation of Bangladesh cricketers in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is now uncertain, with the final decision hinging on government approval amid ongoing regional tensions. A total of six Bangladesh players — Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Rishad Hossain — were initially granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being picked in the league’s first-ever auction. However, the evolving situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has prompted the board to reconsider their participation, making government clearance mandatory. BCB cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed that the board will not take a final call without consulting the authorities. “Of course, we will seek permission from the government before sending our cricketers for the PSL. Under normal circumstances, these things are not required. We provide clearance; they go, play, and return. But since the situation is not normal and there is a risk element concerning the players, obviously we will discuss it with the government,” Abedin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Thursday. “We will seek to know from the government whether it will be safe to travel or not, and based on that government decision, we will have to take the ultimate call on whether the players will go or not. Because it is not actually possible for us to understand the situation there. It is possible for the government to know. The government will know, and if the government tells us that it is safe to go and the players can travel, then the players will go. But, in principle, we have decided that we will give the NOC, and they will go to play. But it depends on the situation at that time,” he added. As things stand, if the players are cleared to participate in the PSL, they are likely to miss Bangladesh’s preparatory camps ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand national cricket team, who are scheduled to tour Bangladesh next month for three ODIs and three T20Is. The BCB has already issued partial NOCs to manage player availability across both commitments. Mustafizur Rahman, who has been signed by Lahore Qalandars, has been granted clearance from March 26 to April 12 and again from April 24 to May 3. He will take part in the ODI series against New Zealand but will miss the T20I leg. Meanwhile, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain have received NOCs valid until April 12, allowing them to feature in both formats of the home series. Parvez Hossain Emon, on the other hand, has been cleared until April 21 and is expected to be available for the T20I matches. With safety concerns now at the forefront, the final decision on Bangladesh players’ PSL participation will ultimately rest with the government, leaving their involvement in the tournament hanging in the balance.

Bangladesh cricketers (AP Photo)

In a dramatic turn, the Bangladesh government has decided to launch a fresh probe into whether the country’s withdrawal from the just-concluded ICC Twenty20 World Cup amounted to a failure of sports diplomacy, a day after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested the sports ministry to shut down an earlier investigation panel.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!State minister for youth and sports Aminul Haque confirmed that a new inquiry committee will be constituted, focusing specifically on whether Bangladesh’s absence from the global showpiece reflected deeper diplomatic shortcomings. Bangladesh had pulled out citing security concerns, with Scotland stepping in as their replacement.As per a Cricbuzz report, the move is seen as a significant setback for BCB’s top brass, particularly board president Aminul Islam, who played a central role in the decision to skip the tournament.“I have already spoken about these issues — why we could not participate in World Cup cricket and where exactly our shortcomings in sports diplomacy lay. These are matters we must thoroughly examine,” Aminul Haque said, underlining the seriousness of the government’s stance.Focus on sports diplomacy and accountabilityHe added that the committee is likely to be formed after Eid and will aim to identify the root causes behind the controversial withdrawal. “Perhaps after Eid, I will form an inquiry committee… and based on its findings, we will take the necessary steps,” he stated.Emphasising the larger implications, Aminul Haque said, “In my view, we need to further strengthen our sports diplomacy because sports is a platform where, beyond all divisions and political ideologies, we can unite as a nation.”The minister also linked the broader probe to governance concerns within the BCB, revealing that multiple complaints had been received regarding irregularities in the board’s recent elections. “During the previous government’s tenure, there was direct interference in the cricket board elections… After we assumed responsibility, various complaints came in from stakeholders,” he said.Election irregularities also under scannerAccording to him, the inquiry committee has been directed through the National Sports Council to consult all stakeholders, including election officials, board members, the CEO, and even district administrators. “These are allegations and questionable issues… In my opinion, these matters require a completely impartial investigation,” he added.Aminul Haque confirmed that the government will also engage with the International Cricket Council before taking any final decision. “Once the report is submitted, we will review it carefully and then, after speaking with the ICC, take the next course of action,” he said.

NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken strong action against former women’s team selector Monjurul Islam after serious misconduct allegations were raised by former women’s captain Jahanara Alam. Following an investigation, the board has banned Monjurul from any cricket-related role under the BCB, either directly or indirectly. The inquiry committee looked into four allegations linked to an incident during the 2022 Women’s World Cup.

While two claims could not be proven due to lack of evidence, the panel found initial proof of inappropriate behaviour in the other two cases and said his conduct fell under harassment and misconduct rules.The BCB confirmed the decision in a statement, saying, “Based on the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee formed by the BCB to examine the complaint lodged by former Bangladesh Women’s National Team Captain Jahanara Alam, the Board has decided to impose a ban on former national cricketer Monjurul Islam from all forms of direct or indirect employment and/or cricket-related activities under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.” The board added that it is still reviewing the committee’s recommendations and may take further steps, stating, “The BCB is reviewing the recommendations of the Committee and will take any additional measures deemed necessary in light of the report.”Monjurul had already completed his contract with the BCB in June 2025, but the board said his behaviour did not meet professional standards.In the same meeting, the BCB announced the schedule for the first-ever Women’s Bangladesh Premier League, which will be played from April 4 to 14, 2026, in Dhaka and Chattogram. The board also gave a one-month extension to chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain while they search for his replacement. Explaining this, the BCB said, “In view of his intention to step down at the end of his tenure as Chairman National Selection Panel, the Board has decided to offer a one-month extension to Gazi Ashraf Hossain. During this period, the Board will work on finding his successor and reorganisation of the panel.”