BPL: Tuesday games postponed following former PM Khaleda Zia's death

The BCB has called off both Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches scheduled for Tuesday, December 30, after Khaleda Zia, the country's former prime minister, died in the morning. The announcement came not long after the news of Zia's death and just a couple of hours before the toss at the first match of the day, between Sylhet Titans and Chattogram Royals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Zia, whose death was announced at 6am local time on Tuesday, served two terms as the country's prime minister, from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006. She was Bangladesh's first female prime minister, and the wife of Ziaur Rahman, former president of Bangladesh. She had been the chairperson and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), founded by her husband, since 1984.

"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. "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.

"In respect of the nation's mourning and in honour of Begum Khaleda Zia's legacy, the BCB announces that today's scheduled Bangladesh Premier League matches have been cancelled and will be rescheduled. Further details on the revised fixtures will be communicated in due course."

BCB president Aminul Islam said: "On a personal note, I remember with gratitude the encouragement and support she extended to sport during my playing days. Her interest in cricket and her understanding of its role in uniting the country were genuine and sustained. Under her stewardship, cricket in Bangladesh benefited most notably through improvements in facilities and infrastructure that helped lay stronger foundations for the game across the country.

"Her legacy in cricket is also inseparable from the contribution of her late son, Arafat Rahman, whose vision and initiatives had a pioneering influence on Bangladesh cricket's modernisation journey. The progress the game has made over the years owes much to that period of forward thinking and investment."

The BPL's 2025-26 season began on December 26, and three matchdays have already been completed. Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders were scheduled to contest the second match on Tuesday. With several breaks between matchdays, the schedule is unlikely to be affected significantly by the postponement.

Elsewhere, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis has also postponed nine matches of the Dhaka First Division Cricket League, scheduled to be held from December 30 to January 1. "The postponed matches will be rescheduled and a revised itinerary will be issued in due course," CCDM said.