‘I will not work in the BPL’ – Noakhali Express coaches express frustration over inadequate arrangements
Noakhali Express head coach Khaled Mahmud exited the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday during a practice session a day prior to the commencement of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. He left in an auto rickshaw with assistant coach Talha Jubair after voicing concerns about the lack of training arrangements, particularly the insufficient number of balls. The pair, however, later returned to the venue, with Mahmud labeling the episode a “misunderstanding”.* Upon their arrival for training at the stadium, with the Express set to face Chattogram Royals in the opening match of the tournament on Friday, they discovered only a few practice balls. Mahmud and Jubair promptly left the stadium. “I will not work in the BPL under these circumstances. I have never encountered this in the BPL before,” Mahmud stated to reporters while entering the vehicle, commonly known as CNG. He subsequently mentioned that he would not be collaborating with the Noakhali franchise. A few staff members attempted to convince Mahmud and Jubair to return to the venue, promising that the issue would be rectified moving forward. However, Mahmud remained firm in his decision. Meanwhile, the players continued their training at the Sylhet stadium after the coaches departed. They are joined by notable international players like Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis, and Mohammad Nabi, in addition to Bangladesh stars Hasan Mahmud, Soumya Sarkar, and Jaker Ali. Mahmud later remarked that he “may have overreacted” due to inadequate facilities during the practice. “It was a misunderstanding,” he conveyed. “I believe I may have overreacted at that moment. The training facilities were insufficient. I didn’t receive the equipment I required. That’s when I lost my temper. I think I acted poorly at that moment. I want to extend my gratitude to the owners. I spoke with them. The BCB has also communicated with me.” ESPNcricinfo has learned that the incident has garnered BCB’s attention, and the board is examining the situation. Noakhali is among the four new franchises participating in this season’s BPL. It was the last team incorporated into the tournament, which features six teams instead of the usual seven. The two incidents occurring just 24 hours before the start of the twelfth edition of the BPL have evidently unsettled the BCB, and several high-ranking officials were seen at the stadium in the aftermath.* The story was revised to include Mahmud’s comments after the pair returned to the venue.
Published: 2025-12-25 15:28:00
source: www.espncricinfo.com
