Since the new leadership took over the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), expectations for change have been high within the cricket community. Former Bangladesh captain Faruque Ahmed, now heading the BCB, has introduced new policies and reforms. However, certain longstanding issues remain unresolved.

One such issue is the preferential treatment given to certain Bashundhara Dhaka Premier League (BDPL) clubs, allowing them to use BCB facilities to their advantage.

In previous editions of the BDPL, the academy building at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) was allocated to Abahani Limited and Shinepukur Cricket Club—both operated by Beximco, a company where former BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon was once employed. This raised concerns about favoritism and the unequal distribution of resources among participating teams.

Fast forward to this year’s BDPL, and the trend continues. The same academy building is now being used by Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) and Legends of Rupganj. Players from both teams are residing there and utilizing the academy ground for training, once again sparking debates over whether certain clubs continue to enjoy privileges that others do not.

“They applied to the board, and if the board has no objections, they can stay. Perhaps there was a consideration that both teams have a significant number of national players. Other teams with national players are also staying at the academy,” said a BCB official.

Despite the leadership change at BCB, the persistence of such practices raises concerns about fairness and transparency in domestic cricket administration. Many within the cricketing community believe that if the new board is truly committed to ensuring an even playing field for all teams, addressing these issues should be a priority.