BCB Announces New T20 Amid Players’ Unrest

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the launch of a new Twenty20 tournament titled “Sonar Bangla Pathway”, at a time when domestic cricket in the country is facing one of its most turbulent periods in recent years. The announcement comes against the backdrop of an ongoing standoff between the board and domestic clubs, eight of which have boycotted the First Division Cricket League in protest against the current BCB administration.

According to the BCB, the newly announced tournament will feature cricketers from the boycotting First Division clubs alongside players who went unsold in the most recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction. The initiative, the board claims, is part of its commitment to providing competitive opportunities for players who currently find themselves outside both club cricket and franchise-based competitions.

In an official press release, the BCB stated that the tournament is scheduled to begin in the first week of January, with six to eight teams expected to take part. Matches will be hosted at two regional venues—Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura and Shaheed AHM Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi—as part of the board’s broader plan to decentralise cricket and promote the game beyond Dhaka. Team selection will be overseen by national selectors, and the BCB has confirmed that participating players will receive match fees and remuneration directly from the board.

Despite these assurances, the announcement has failed to appease the country’s leading players’ body, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB). The organisation has called for a human chain demonstration outside Gate No. 2 of the BCB headquarters, signalling that tensions remain unresolved. CWAB president Mohammad Mithun was forthright in his criticism, describing the tournament as a superficial measure rather than a meaningful solution.

“This is nothing more than an eyewash,” Mithun said in an interview. “Even if the tournament goes ahead, many deserving cricketers will still be left without opportunities.” He warned that the protest would escalate in phases should the board fail to address what CWAB views as systemic injustices faced by domestic players.

The unrest has also drawn the attention of senior figures in Bangladeshi cricket. According to sources, former national captain Tamim Iqbal voiced his frustration in a WhatsApp voice message shared among affected players. Expressing concern over the board’s delayed response, Tamim urged players to set aside personal differences and consider collective action, describing the moment as “crucial” and calling for “decisive steps”.

Meanwhile, the crisis at club level continues to deepen. A total of 43 clubs have declared their refusal to participate in Dhaka leagues, branding the current BCB board as “illegitimate”. Of these, eight clubs have already withdrawn from the First Division League. Although the BCB has reportedly attempted multiple rounds of dialogue over the past several months, the protesting clubs remain firm in their stance, refusing to compete under the existing administration.

As the proposed Sonar Bangla Pathway tournament approaches, it remains uncertain whether the initiative will ease tensions or further highlight the widening rift within Bangladesh’s domestic cricket structure.

Sonar Bangla Pathway T20: Key Information