Dhaka Capitals CEO threatens BPL exit over ACU overreach

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been plunged into a state of severe internal crisis following explosive allegations of "mental torture" and "unprofessionalism" leveled against the BCB’s Integrity Unit by Dhaka Capitals CEO Atik Fahad.

In a stunning escalation of tensions that threatens the very participation of the franchise, Fahad revealed on Friday that the team is considering a total withdrawal from the tournament if the current climate of humiliation and procedural overreach continues.

The standoff reached a breaking point following a controversial early-morning incident involving Afghan superstar Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

According to Fahad, anti-corruption officials bypassed all standard protocols by entering the player’s hotel room without an appointment or management's knowledge while he was asleep.

“One of our foreign players—he's a big player, I'm talking about Gurbaz—couldn't sleep all night and only fell asleep around 7:00 or 8:00 AM. Suddenly, some people went into his room without any appointment or informing the team management and just knocked and entered. Gurbaz came to me and asked, 'What is this?' He was confused for 10-15 minutes about what was happening because he had just fallen asleep and didn't understand,” Fahad stated.

The CEO noted that Gurbaz subsequently contacted the Afghanistan Anti-Corruption Unit, who confirmed that ICC protocols require informing a team manager first to ensure the player is in a proper mental state. The fallout has been immediate, with Gurbaz reportedly warning the franchise of his future unavailability.

“Gurbaz said to me that if same things happen again, I couldn’t come here to play anymore. This is something that happened this morning,” Fahad added.

The friction is not limited to the players; it has hit the highest levels of the franchise management.

Earlier Daily Sun reported that a member of the Integrity Unit recently confiscated Fahad’s own mobile phone, a move that left the CEO "deeply disappointed."

Addressing the broader crackdown, Fahad acknowledged the need for vigilance but slammed the methods being employed.

“Last year we faced many serious problems... so I appreciate the BCB for being strict this time. But being strict doesn’t mean acting outside the rules and regulations, right? There are specific ICC guidelines, and everything must remain within those. But as time has gone on, the situation has escalated to a very serious level. This is no longer just about investigation or routine checks,” he remarked.

Fahad’s frustration is rooted in the financial and emotional toll of running a franchise under such scrutiny.

“If this situation continues, we won’t have the courage to continue at all. I invest money here, absorb losses, bring in CSR funds from different companies—and then leave with humiliation. That’s not possible,” he said.

He further questioned how the league could survive if investors felt targeted.

“If we continue to carry on BPL by losing Tk2-3 crore every year like this, and even in that situation, if we are mentally tortured like this, I have no idea how we will stay in the match or how we will run the franchise league.”