Fortune Barishal cricketers were set to celebrate their BPL championship win with fans at Bell's Park in Barishal on Sunday. However, the celebration was cut short as Tamim Iqbal and his team had to leave the stage within minutes due to security concerns. Frustrated fans vandalized the stage in response. In a video message, Tamim apologized, explaining that the team had planned to engage with fans and speak individually, but due to the overwhelming crowd of over 150,000 people, security personnel deemed the situation unsafe.

Ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers against India, Bangladesh has announced a 38-member preliminary squad. The match is set to take place in Shillong, India. The squad includes Hamza Chowdhury, who recently transferred to Sheffield United from an English Premier League club, and Fahmidul Islam, who plays for Italian club Olbia Calcio. Among the 38 players, the highest number—14—are from Bashundhara Kings, while 8 players are from Abahani.

Australia clinched a historic Test series victory in Sri Lanka after 14 years, winning the second Test by nine wickets. The visitors dominated the series, securing the first Test convincingly before wrapping up the second with ease. Sri Lanka struggled with the bat, getting bowled out for 257 in the first innings, while Australia responded strongly with 414, gaining a significant 157-run lead. In their second innings, Sri Lanka managed 231 runs, setting Australia a modest target of 75, which they chased down comfortably. The last time Australia won a Test series in Sri Lanka was in 2011.

A dispute has arisen within Bangladesh’s national women’s football team as 18 players, led by captain Sabina Khatun, have refused to train under British coach Peter Butler. Shortly after the investigation committee submitted its report, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal stepped in to mediate. He stated, "I have spoken with every player one-on-one. They want something, but this is not the way to get it." Regarding the players’ refusal to train under Butler, he commented, "I am here to guide, provide incentives, and ensure understanding. Playing or not playing is their personal choice. The federation is not forcing anyone to play or not to play." He defended Butler’s appointment for two years, asserting that all aspects were considered before finalizing the contract.

The 11th season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) concluded with a thrilling final, marking record-breaking ticket sales despite initial mismanagement. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), ticket revenue had surpassed 1.2 billion taka by the second qualifier match. Even with higher ticket prices for the final, demand remained strong, pushing total revenue beyond 1.3 billion taka. For the final match, 6,000 tickets were reserved for BCB stakeholders, while the remaining 16,000 were sold online, through banks, and at ticket booths. In the past four seasons, average ticket revenue was around 400 million taka due to a lack of direct BCB control over sales. This year, earnings more than tripled, with 15% of the revenue allocated to government tax funds.

Fortune Barishal celebrated their second consecutive BPL championship, shattering Chattogram Kings’ hopes. The team secured a massive cash prize, with the total prize pool reaching Tk 53.1 million—Tk 20.3 million more than last year. Despite scoring 194 runs, Chattogram Kings could not clinch victory, finishing as runners-up in their comeback season after a decade and receiving Tk 15 million. Final MVP: Tamim Iqbal (50-run knock) - Tk 500,000 Player of the Tournament: Mehidy Hasan Miraz - Tk 1 million Emerging Player of the Tournament: Tanzid Hasan - Tk 300,000 Best Batsman: Mohammad Naim Sheikh - Tk 500,000 Best Bowler: Taskin Ahmed - Tk 500,000 Best Fielder: Mushfiqur Rahim - Tk 300,000

One of Bangladesh's most successful batsmen, Tamim Iqbal, retired from international cricket about a month ago but intends to continue playing domestic cricket. To honor his contributions, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will present him with a special farewell tribute before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final on Friday. As there are no ongoing international home series, BCB has decided that Tamim’s farewell ceremony will take place during the BPL final at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. Before the prize distribution ceremony, Tamim will receive a commemorative farewell token. His team, Fortune Barishal, will face Chattogram Kings in the final, and fans are eager to see if Tamim can conclude his career with a championship win.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has reached its final stage, with only the championship-deciding match remaining. On the eve of the final, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a change in the match schedule. Initially set for 7:00 PM on Friday, the final will now begin an hour earlier at 6:00 PM, as stated in an official press release from the BCB. Fortune Barishal will face off against Chattogram Kings in the grand finale. Barishal aims to defend their title, while Chattogram is eyeing their first-ever BPL trophy. Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal emphasized the importance of composure, stating, “The team that remains the calmest will emerge as champions.” Interestingly, Chattogram’s captain also echoed the same sentiment, underscoring that staying composed will be the key to victory.

SAFF-winning female footballer Mastusima Sumaiya has alleged threats of murder and rape in a Facebook post. She claimed that she has been receiving such threats since boycotting coach Peter Butler. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has strongly condemned the incident and assured in a statement that action will be taken against those responsible.

Shakib Al Hasan is set to be excluded from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) 2025 central contract after nearly 17 years, as he remains in political exile. The new contract includes 5 players for all formats, with notable inclusions like Najmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Kumar Das. Some players like Mahmudullah will receive only ODI contracts, while others, like Rishad Hossain, will join the T20 squad. A special category for players with flexible roles in the team is also proposed, offering higher pay than the central contract.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFUFee) has formed a special team to resolve the allegations against national women’s football coach Peter Butler. On the evening of February 2nd, Sabina Khatun and others met with the special committee. In the presence of BAFUFee Senior Vice President Imrul Hasan, 18 female footballers presented their positions. Following the footballers’ meeting, the committee will meet with the coaching staff and women’s wing before submitting the report to BAFUFee President Tabith Awal. Although the number of participants in Coach Peter’s practice sessions has been increasing, with 15 out of 31 footballers attending, it is expected that the number will rise further.

In Mirpur, a clash occurred between supporters and opponents of Sakib Al Hasan over his farewell Test match. A group of Sakib supporters, under the banner of ‘Sakibians,’ protested, demanding that Sakib be given the opportunity to play his farewell Test match against South Africa in Mirpur. They also called for the resignation of BCB President Faruque Ahmed if Sakib is not allowed to play in the Mirpur Test. Around 3 PM, tensions escalated when a group of anti-Sakib protesters confronted the ‘Sakibians,’ leading to a scuffle. Both groups engaged in heated exchanges, and some members from each group were injured during the confrontation. At that time, law enforcement officers detained a Sakib supporter on charges of chanting anti-state slogans. However, the supporter told journalists that he had not chanted any anti-state slogans, only ones in support of Sakib.