Rajshahi allowed to play without foreign players under ‘special consideration’

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) technical committee announced on Sunday that they had granted Durbar Rajshahi permission to play against Rangpur Riders without any foreign cricketers under ‘special consideration’ at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on the day.
Rajshahi's overseas players refused to take the field against Rangpur Riders in Dhaka on Sunday due to a payment dispute. Thus, the team fielded 11 local players.
“The Durbar Rajshahi team, currently competing in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20, has applied to the BPL Technical Committee for special approval to field a team consisting solely of Bangladeshi players for today’s match against Rangpur Riders due to the non-availability of overseas players,” the BCB said in a statement on Sunday.
“After a review of the request and in accordance with the provisions outlined in Clause 1.2.8 of the Match Playing Conditions of BPL 2024-25, the technical committee has granted approval for Durbar Rajshahi to field a team consisting of only Bangladeshi players for this match,” it added.
Durbar Rajshahi had picked Ryan Burl, Mohammad Haris, Mark Deyal, Miguel Cummins, Aftab Alam, and Lahiru Samarakoon as their overseas cricketers.
BPL’s rule stipulates that a team must field a minimum of two overseas players in this season’s matches.
The BCB mentioned the following in the BPL players’ draft rulebook and general guidelines: “Franchise must include a minimum of two (02) and a maximum of four (04) overseas players in its playing XI on the field of play in any match at all times in relation to the 11th edition/season of BPL T20.”
Earlier, Durbar players boycotted a practice session due to non-payment in Chattogram.
However, they became the first team to beat Rangpur in this season’s BPL in Chattogram, with Burl earning the player of the match award thanks to his four-wicket haul in that game.