Major Reshuffles in Bangladesh's 2026 Cricket Central Contracts

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has unveiled its 2026 central contracts, upping the player count to 28. Key shifts include Taskin Ahmed's downgrade and new promotions following a tumultuous 2025 season. Prominent performances by Tanzid Hasan and Rishad Hossain have earned them well-deserved advancements.

In a significant update, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released the central contracts for the men's cricket team for the 2026 season. Marking a notable change, the number of contracted players has increased from 22 in the previous year to 28, according to information from the ICC website.

Among the key changes, pacer Taskin Ahmed, who was the sole A+ category player last year, has been downgraded to Grade A. An Achilles injury sidelined him from all Test matches in 2025, although he continued to excel in white-ball cricket, claiming several wickets in ODIs and T20Is.

Veteran cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim has moved down to Grade B following his ODI retirement. Noteworthy performances by youngsters such as Tanzid Hasan, who became the leading T20I run-scorer, and Rishad Hossain, who topped the wicket charts, earned them promotions. A new list of contracted players reflects these shifts across Grades A, B, C, and D.

(With inputs from agencies.)