BCB Head Tamim Iqbal Dents Pakistan Players’ Pockets With Deflating Move

Tamim Iqbal hurts Pakistan players- (Source: AFP)

It has been a tough year for Pakistan cricketers as they have been actively fighting for NOCs to take part in overseas leagues. In 2026, the PCB introduced a new rule allowing players to participate in a maximum of two overseas leagues. In the latest events, BCB head Tamim Iqbal’s latest action has come down heavily on the players.

Bangladesh Premier League has been a popular destination for several Pakistan players. Over the years, the majority of Pakistan stars register for Bangladesh’s prestigious T20 league and draw a heavy paycheque back home.

Tamim Iqbal Plans To Halt Bangladesh Premier League

It seems that Pakistan cricketers’ pockets will take a heavy hit because BCB chairman Tamim Iqbal has hinted that the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will not return for its 12th edition in 2026. Iqbal, who took the all-important chair in Bangladesh cricket in June 2026, cited heavy financial loss behind the difficult step.

“Bangladesh lost around TK 40 crore over the last two BPL seasons. So a tournament that causes a TK 20 crore loss is not on my priority list. I don’t think the BPL will happen this year,” Tamim Iqbal stated to the media via press conference as reported by Cricketangon.

If the 2026 edition would have happened, it would have been the 12th edition and the window would have been December-January. BPL was one of the option for players from Asian countries such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka stars who failed to make the cut in BBL and SA20, which also runs from the same window.

42 Pakistan Stars Registered For BPL in 2025

BPL getting off the calendar is a huge financial blow for Pakistan cricketers. Notably, ahead of BPL 2025-2026, 42 Pakistan cricketers registered for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 auction.

There were 245 overseas registrations, which means that Pakistan cricketers made up to 5.83% of the auction. The number would have been more, but the PCB barred several top stars from participating because of Sri Lanka series at home in January 2026.

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"We are aware that they (Pakistani cricketers) are not available for the whole season as they have a series against Sri Lanka in the middle of January, while they are slated to take on Australia at the end of January," said an official working closely with the franchises.

Tamim Iqbal Promises BPL Return In Future

The franchises can breathe a sigh of relief because Tamim Iqbal has promised at reviving the league next year.

‘We are 1000 per cent committed to doing it, but I don’t want to rush things. I want to do it properly. Even if it takes six or 12 months, I’m willing to take that time,’ said Tamim in the press conference.

‘We have already started communicating with the franchises. The issues involving those who defaulted have to be settled. The missed payments and bank guarantee issues are being addressed step by step. We haven’t officially made any declaration yet. My priority is to fix the whole system properly so that the BCB can make a profit from it,’ he added.

"We will try to host the tournament next year in a systematic way. I could put five teams together tomorrow if I wanted to, but I won’t do that. What’s important to me is fair cricket and maintaining the dignity of the BCB," Tamim Iqbal concluded.