A major controversy erupted on the eve of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 season, casting a shadow over the tournament's opening. Khaled Mahmud, the former Bangladesh captain and head coach of the Noakhali Express franchise, staged a dramatic walkout from his team's training session on Thursday.
Training Session Drama in Sylhet
The incident unfolded at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, where Noakhali Express had gathered to prepare for their season opener against Chattogram Royals on Friday evening. Mahmud, accompanied by the team's pace bowling coach and former Bangladesh fast bowler Talha Jubair, arrived with the squad around 1:30 PM. However, the practice was severely hampered by a glaring lack of basic equipment.
Reports indicate that there were not enough cricket balls available for the players to train effectively. This professional shortcoming left head coach Mahmud deeply frustrated and disappointed. His frustration boiled over when he attempted to address the issue directly with the franchise owner.
A Heated Exchange and a Stark Ultimatum
The discussion with the team owner quickly turned sour. It is understood that the owner misbehaved with Mahmud, leading to a heated argument. Feeling disrespected and unable to work under such conditions, Mahmud made the drastic decision to leave the training ground midway.
Speaking to reporters at the venue, Mahmud did not mince his words. "I will not do the BPL under any circumstances," he declared, as quoted by Cricbuzz. "I have never seen this in the BPL." Bowling coach Talha echoed the sentiment, stating, "I don't want to work. I don't know about you, Sujon (Mahmud) bhai, but I am not working." The duo was seen leaving the stadium while angrily speaking to someone on the phone, catching everyone present by surprise.
The Swift Return and Governing Council's Reaction
The walkout, however, was short-lived. Within a few hours, both Mahmud and Talha returned to the training session. A close friend of the coaches reportedly convinced them to reconsider, advising that abandoning the team abruptly could have long-term negative consequences for their careers.
The incident drew a sharp response from the BPL governing council. Chairman Iftekhar Rahman commented on the lack of professionalism from the Noakhali Express management. He revealed that the franchise's plane carrying equipment, including balls, had not arrived. "If they had asked the BPL governing council, we would have given them 10 balls," Rahman said, highlighting the avoidable nature of the conflict.
This episode adds to the pre-tournament turbulence, coming shortly after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) surprisingly took over the ownership of the opposing team, Chattogram Royals, a move the BPL chairman said was to "avoid further embarrassment."
As the 12th edition of the BPL gets underway, this internal strife within Noakhali Express raises questions about team management and preparedness, setting a tense backdrop for the league's opening matches in Sylhet.
