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Chattogram Royals owner withdraws from BPL 2025-26; BCB steps in to take over franchise

Soumyajit Dutta

Chattogram Royals owner withdraws from the BPL tournament [Source: @jamin_abul_167/X]Chattogram Royals owner withdraws from the BPL tournament [Source: @jamin_abul_167/X]

In a recent and scintillating development, the Chattogram Royals, one of the prominent Bangladesh Premier League franchises, have withdrawn from the BPL 2025-26 just a day ahead of the inauguration of the league’s 12th edition.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board officially confirmed that the Royals’ owners submitted their withdrawal statement to the BPL Governing Body due to their failure to secure sponsors for the team.

Why did Chattogram Royals owners pull out of BPL?

Explaining the withdrawal, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director and BPL Governing Body Member Secretary Iftekhar Rehman Mithu revealed that the Chattogram Royals struggled to attract sponsors because of propaganda circulating in the news media.

"We have received a letter half an hour ago. In the letter, they said that due to the propaganda in the news media, they failed to get sponsors to run the team. That's why they are withdrawing from the tournament. We have already taken over the franchise. We are currently in the process," Mithu told The Daily Star.

This development has led to massive turmoil in the upcoming BPL edition, as the Chattogram Royals are scheduled to play a match tomorrow against the Noakhali Express. 

After the sudden development, the team management might have to go through a lot of briefings with the BCB, with just a day left before their inaugural game.

Chattogram's poor reputation with BPL payments

Notably, Chattogram had already been under scrutiny after an internet service provider company in Bangladesh was awarded the franchise rights.

It was found that Chattogram had submitted its registration fee of Tk 2 crore; however, it delayed providing the required bank guarantee amount of Tk 10 crore.

It is important to note that earlier, in November, the BCB had declared that they will be taking over full control of the BPL franchise that fails to complete their payments, even during the tournament.