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In a big setback to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Lanka Premier League (LPL), Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has stunned one and all by preferring national interest over franchise money.
Bangladesh’s star fast bowler has withdrawn from the ongoing Lanka Premier League 2026 (LPL 2026) after getting permission from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Amid this, Kusal Mendis suffered an injury blow ahead of the India Tests and was ruled out of LPL 2026.
Taskin Ahmed puts Bangladesh first, ignores LPL
Taskin Ahmed was all set to represent Jaffna Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League 2026 (LPL 2026). However, with Bangladesh getting ready for the crucial Test tour of Australia, the right-arm pacer felt that his full focus should be on national duty.
Bangladesh will play a two-match Test series in Australia for the first time since 2003 next month. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had already given Taskin Ahmed a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the LPL 2026. Earlier, the fast bowler had even planned to skip the T20I series against Zimbabwe and travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament.
But Taskin Ahmed's plans changed after experienced fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out of the T20I series in Zimbabwe because of an injury. The fast bowler stayed with the Bangladesh squad for the Zimbabwe series and later decided to pull out of the LPL 2026 completely.
Why did Taskin Ahmed pull out of the LPL 2026?
The fast bowler felt that playing in the Lanka Premier League 2026 and then traveling straight to Australia would not give him enough time to prepare for the Test series. Amid this, Sikandar Raza refuses to call India favourites ahead of Shreyas Iyer's 3rd T20I series as captain.
Taskin Ahmed also admitted that he had lost an opportunity to make good money, but for him, playing a Test series in Australia for Bangladesh was much more important for him.
Taskin told The Daily Sun, “Yeah, I had withdrawn myself from the LPL, and it was mainly for Australia Test series preparation. We played six back-to-back matches in Zimbabwe; maybe I would have gotten four matches there (in the LPL) after my stint there if I had returned home and immediately gone to Australia. My Test match preparation would be hampered; despite a little loss, I thought it’s OK.”
Since the Australia series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27, Taskin did not want to take any risk with his preparation for the challenging tour. He signed off by saying, “The Australia series won’t come around often; that’s why I took the decision, even after having the NOC, so I pulled out from the LPL.”
Injury concerns for Bangladesh before Australia tour
On the other hand, Bangladesh is also keeping a close watch on young fast bowler Nahid Rana, who suffered a left-side strain during the second T20I against Zimbabwe. He could not complete his spell in the match and will now undergo scans to find out how serious the injury is.
At the same time, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam is recovering from a hamstring injury picked up during the Zimbabwe tour. If his rehabilitation goes well, he is expected to be available for the first Test against Australia.
The first Test between Australia and Bangladesh will be played in Darwin from August 13 to 17. The second and final Test will be played in Mackay from August 22 to 26.
