The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to five Bangladeshi cricketers, including the veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, enabling them to participate in the upcoming edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Because the schedule of the LPL directly clashes with Bangladesh’s T20 International (T20I) series during their tour of Zimbabwe, the national squad will have to compete without several of their key players.
Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently out of the national setup, secured his place in the LPL via a direct signing. Following the same acquisition method, wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed were also signed directly by franchises. The BCB has granted all three players permission to feature in the Sri Lankan domestic tournament. According to a report published by Cricbuzz, Litton and Taskin will not feature in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, having been rested by the board for that specific leg of the tour.
In addition to the direct signings, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz and pacer Hasan Mahmud secured their franchise contracts after being selected from the player draft. They have also received the necessary clearance from the board to participate in the tournament. Shahriar Nafees, the head of cricket operations at the BCB, confirmed these developments, stating that Litton and Taskin have been excluded from the Zimbabwe T20I squad, whilst Shakib, Miraz, and Hasan Mahmud have all been cleared for the LPL.
For the upcoming tournament, the five Bangladeshi players will represent three different franchises. Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed are set to play for the Jaffna Kings. Meanwhile, the Galle Gladiators have secured the services of both Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The fifth player, Hasan Mahmud, will represent the Colombo Caps. The sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League is scheduled to commence on 17 July and will culminate with the final on 8 August.
Concurrently, the Bangladesh national team will be engaged in a multi-format bilateral series in Zimbabwe this month. The tour consists of a solitary Test match, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and three T20Is. The tour will open with the standalone Test match in Harare on 28 June. The ODI series is scheduled to conclude on 11 July, whereas the T20I series will run until 19 July, overlapping with the opening stages of the LPL.
Bangladeshi Players’ Franchise Allocation and Availability
| Cricketer | LPL Franchise | Signing Method | Zimbabwe T20I Series Status |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Jaffna Kings | Direct Contract | Unavailable (Currently outside national team) |
| Taskin Ahmed | Jaffna Kings | Direct Contract | Unavailable (Rested for T20Is) |
| Litton Das | Galle Gladiators | Direct Contract | Unavailable (Rested for T20Is) |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Galle Gladiators | Player Draft | Unavailable (NOC Granted) |
| Hasan Mahmud | Colombo Caps | Player Draft | Unavailable (NOC Granted) |
Comparative Schedule: Bangladesh Tour of Zimbabwe vs LPL 6
| Event / Match Type | Start Date | End Date | Venue / Details |
| Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh (Lone Test) | 28 June | — | Harare |
| Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh (3 ODIs) | — | 11 July | Complete ODI Series |
| Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh (3 T20Is) | — | 19 July | Overlaps with LPL start |
| Lanka Premier League (6th Edition) | 17 July | 8 August | Domestic T20 Tournament |