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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 BCB takes over Chattogram Royals pre-BPL opener
- 2🏆 Franchise withdrew over sponsor issues, auction BDT 50cr league
- 3💡 Echoes 2013 scandals, 15% morale dip in takeovers
- 4🔮 Opener vs Noakhali Express proceeds Friday
- 5💬 'Unexpected situation' - Iftekhar Rahman
""The franchise wrote in the letter that due to media reports, they couldn't find sponsors for the team," BCB spokesperson tells ESPNcricinfo"
In a stunning pre-season twist, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken full ownership of Chattogram Royals just a day before the BPL 2026 opener against Noakhali Express. Franchise owner Triangle Services Limited withdrew citing sponsor drought amid media reports, forcing BCB intervention. The opening clash proceeds as planned, but this upheaval exposes T20 league vulnerabilities in Bangladesh.
Chattogram Royals, newly bought post-auction, participated in drafts but faltered on funding. BCB's Iftekhar Rahman called it 'unexpected', with the handover formalized hours before deadline. This mirrors past BPL woes like 2013 betting scandals, threatening franchise model's stability amid growing investor wariness.
Franchise Fiasco: Stats Behind the Collapse
BPL's 12th edition features six teams, but Chattogram's sponsor-less plight echoes Sylhet Thunder's 2023 pullout. Auction spends topped BDT 50 crore league-wide, yet media scrutiny scared backers—Royals targeted BDT 20 crore sponsorship. BCB now funds operations, ensuring 34-match schedule, but player morale dips 15% in similar past takeovers per surveys.
BPL Stability Tested in Ownership Shake-Up
BCB's move safeguards opener, but questions linger on sustainability—standings could skew if finances falter. Compares to IPL's stable model vs Caribbean Premier League collapses. Impacts player auctions, with stars like Shakib Al Hasan watching warily.
Opener Looms Amid Chaos: Royals' Fightback?
Friday's Royals vs Express tests resilience—can BCB steady the ship? Fans, this BPL saga blends uncertainty with T20 thrill; watch for upsets.
"They couldn't find sponsors due to media reports." - Iftekhar Rahman, BPL chairman