Bangladesh backstabs BCCI again, restricts players’ availability for IPL 2026

Bangladesh players may not be fully available for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to international commitments. Bangladesh will play a six-match white-ball series against New Zealand in the IPL window, and several players may miss part of the tournament or be unavailable after the mini-auction.

With the IPL auction just days away, teams are finalizing their plans and strategies. Seven players from Bangladesh have registered for this year’s auction, and a few of them could attract bids. Mustafizur Rahman is the most proven IPL campaigner among the group, but there is also curiosity around the other players.

Bangladesh Cricket Board Issues Official Statement on Player Availability for IPL 2026

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has eased concerns over player availability for the IPL. Cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin said that the board would allow Bangladeshi players to take part in most of the IPL season.

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He stated that players would only be recalled for the shortest time necessary to fulfil international duties, as the BCB wants them to gain maximum exposure by playing in the IPL.

"We will give them NOC for most of IPL because we want them to play as much as possible so we will bring them for minimum requirement (for the white-ball series against New Zealand)," Nazmul Abedin told Cricbuzz on Sunday.

Bangladesh Players Face Availability Concerns Ahead of IPL Auction

Seven players from Bangladesh have registered for the IPL auction, with base prices ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 2 crore. Mustafizur Rahman is the only player expected to attract bids from franchises.

The left-arm fast bowler may not be fully available due to national team duties. He could join the tournament later as a replacement player, similar to what happened last season.

The other Bangladesh players in the auction include Rishad Hossain (Rs 75 lakh), Taskin Ahmed (Rs 75 lakh), Tanzim Hasan Sakib (Rs 75 lakh), Nahid Rana (Rs 75 lakh), Md Shoriful Islam (Rs 75 lakh), and Rakibul Hasan (Rs 30 lakh).

Bangladesh are scheduled to play a six-match white-ball series against New Zealand in April, which clashes with the IPL window. Franchises may prefer players who can play the full season and keep Bangladesh players as backup or replacement options if needed.

BCCI to Brief Franchises on Overseas Player Availability Ahead of IPL Auction

Player availability is very important in the IPL, especially when it comes to overseas players. To help teams plan better, the BCCI will meet all ten franchises on December 15 and share updates on when foreign players are likely to be available.

The auction rules will stay the same. Franchises will still have to pay the full salary amount for any player they buy, regardless of whether that player misses part of the season.

Auction rules state, “For the purposes of this Player Auction, a player’s expected unavailability for part of the IPL 2026 season will be ignored. The full amount of the annual League Fee bid (assuming 100% availability) will be deducted from the Salary Cap. However, to assist Franchisees in determining their strategy, BCCI will give an expected availability for each relevant player for the IPL 2026 season.”

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