Tamim Iqbal withdraws from BPL 2026

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has opted out of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), requesting the board to withdraw his name from the players’ auction scheduled for November 23. The left-handed opener confirmed the development on Sunday, November 16.

Since the inception of the BPL in 2012, Tamim has featured in every edition of the tournament and established himself as one of its most successful performers. He played a pivotal role in guiding Fortune Barishal to consecutive titles, excelling consistently both as a leader and as a top-order batter. His absence marks a significant change for the franchise and the tournament as a whole.

"Yes (I am not taking part in BPL) as I have requested Shahriar Nafees (BCB cricket operation manager) to remove my name from players draft," Tamim said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Tamim’s decision to opt out of the tournament did not come as a major surprise, as several factors contributed to it. These included concerns over his health as well as Fortune Barishal’s decision to skip the upcoming BPL season, citing insufficient time to prepare for the competition.

The 36-year-old has been away from professional cricket since March 2024, when he suffered a heart attack during a domestic match. Since then, his focus has been on recovery rather than making a rushed return to the field. Additionally, Tamim had shown interest in cricket administration and initially planned to contest the BCB elections, but later withdrew, alleging government interference in the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the BPL players’ auction is set to take place at a city hotel on November 23, where five franchises, Dhaka Capitals, Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Titans, will participate to build their squads for the 12th edition of the tournament.

This year’s auction marks a significant change, as it returns after a 12-year gap. The auction system was previously used only during the first two editions in 2012 and 2013, before the league shifted to a players’ draft format for the next nine seasons.