Noakhali’s campaign unravels on and off the field

Newcomers Noakhali Express continued their miserable run in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat on Monday, going down by six wickets to Sylhet Titans in Sylhet.

While the on-field performances of Noakhali -- the only winless side in the tournament -- have been alarming, their off-field troubles have been far more concerning and wide-ranging.

Noakhali's losing streak is not unfamiliar territory for head coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon. In 2024, he coached Durdanto Dhaka, who lost 11 straight matches to finish bottom while last season, his Dhaka Capitals managed just three to end sixth out of seven teams.

During the tournament, a member of the team's coaching staff has reportedly faced questioning by the BCB's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) after doubts emerged about the authenticity of his professional credentials.

The troubles with the coaching panel had started a day before the season began, when head coach Sujon and assistant coach Talha Jubair boycotted a practice session over inadequate training arrangements and equipment, before rejoining later the day, calling it a 'misunderstanding'.

The captaincy situation of the team has also been murky from the start. Before the tournament, the team's Managing Director Bazlur Rahman Ratan publicly stated that he did not want national team wicketkeeper Jaker Ali to lead the side.

Eventually, the team named Shykat Ali -- a 32-year-old uncapped local cricketer -- as captain, only to replace him two matches later with Pakistani batter Haider Ali.

Noakhali is also struggling at bringing in players from overseas. They had signed West Indies batter Johnson Charles, Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis and Afghanistan's Sediqullah Atal as direct recruits.

However, Mendis was ruled out due to injury, while the participation of Charles and Sediqullah remains uncertain, with a concerned team official admitting that both are unlikely to feature and the franchise is unsure about who to bring in their places. They have already roped in local players Munim Shahriar and Abu Jayed Rahi mid-tournament, trying to salvage a season that looks destined for humiliation.