Brothers Union Refuse to Play Despite Arriving at Venue, Agrani Bank Awarded Walkover Win Amid Payment Dispute

A highly unusual incident unfolded in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) as Brothers Union declined to take the field despite arriving at the venue with their team bus. As a result, Agrani Bank Cricket Club was awarded a walkover victory without a ball being bowled.

During Friday’s scheduled fixture, no representative from Brothers Union appeared for the toss. The club also failed to submit its team sheet within the stipulated time. Following the competition regulations, match officials declared Agrani Bank the winners.

Sources revealed that the players’ decision stemmed from long-standing frustration over unpaid dues. Although club officials reportedly offered a partial payment on the morning of the match, the players considered the amount insufficient and refused to participate. They are now looking toward Bangladesh Cricket Board presidential candidate Tamim Iqbal for a resolution to the issue.

Brothers Union were already struggling in the league standings, sitting at the bottom of the table with just one win from 12 matches. Meanwhile, Agrani Bank strengthened their position with the effortless victory. The club now has five wins and 10 points from nine matches, placing them fifth in the standings.

Payment-related disputes are not new to Bangladesh’s domestic cricket. A similar controversy emerged during last season’s DPL when players of Partex Sporting Club boycotted training sessions over unpaid salaries. The situation escalated to the point where the club was forced to complete the remainder of the tournament with a different group of players instead of its regular squad.

The incident comes at a sensitive time, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board election scheduled for Sunday. Occurring just two days before the polls, such an episode in the country’s premier domestic competition is likely to raise fresh concerns about cricket administration and deal a significant blow to the image of the current board.