Khaleda Zia's Death: In the aftermath of the demise of Bangladesh's first Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, on Tuesday, BPL matches which were scheduled to take place in the afternoon and evening, have been called off and rescheduled for December 31. The decision was taken two hours before the toss of match number seven, which was scheduled to start at 1 PM IST between Sylhet Titans and Chattogram Royals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Zia, the first female PM of the country, served two terms -- from 1991-1996 and 2001-2006. She was the chairperson and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
"BPL 2026 stands united in respect during the period of national mourning for Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia.
Matches scheduled for 30 December 2025 have been rescheduled to 31 December 2025," the BCB said on its 'X' handle.
"The BCB recalls with gratitude her [Zia's] constant blessings and good wishes for the progress of cricket in this country," a BCB statement said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"During her tenure as Prime Minister, she provided outstanding support for the development of cricket in Bangladesh, significantly contributing to improvements in cricket infrastructure and the sport's growth nationwide. Her vision and encouragement helped pave the way for many of the advancements the game enjoys today," it added.
"All remaining Sylhet Phase matches will continue as per the original schedule."
Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders were scheduled to play the second match on Tuesday. The postponement of matches is unlikely to affect the schedule of the tournament, which began on December 26.
Inputs from Agency