The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has unveiled its central contracts for 2026, bringing notable changes to the grading structure and the status of several senior players, including Taskin Ahmed and Mushfiqur Rahim.
In a significant shift, the BCB has scrapped the A+ category entirely. Taskin Ahmed, who was the sole cricketer in the elite bracket last year with a monthly salary of BDT 1 million, has now been placed in Grade A — the highest available tier for 2026. Players in this category will earn BDT 800,000 (approximately USD 6,535) per month. He joins Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, ODI skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz and T20I captain Litton Das in the top grade.
Taskin’s demotion has sparked debate, particularly given his consistent performances and the team management’s careful handling of his workload to maintain his effectiveness across formats. The board, however, has not provided any explanation for the restructuring or his revised contract status.
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Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim has also moved down the ladder. After retiring from ODI cricket in 2025, he has been shifted from Grade A to Grade B. Under the new pay scale, he will receive BDT 600,000 per month (around USD 4,901). Mushfiqur is one of eleven players in Grade B, a group that features Test regulars Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam, along with opener Shadman Islam.
Shadman is among four players promoted from Grade C to Grade B, alongside Tanzid Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan — all of whom impressed over the past year to earn upgraded deals.
The Grade D category has expanded considerably. While only two players were in the lowest bracket last year, seven cricketers now occupy that tier for 2026, including Saif Hassan and Nurul Hasan, both of whom returned to the T20I setup in 2025. Grade C players will earn BDT 400,000 per month, while Grade D contracts are valued at BDT 200,000 monthly.
Bangladesh’s international schedule has been relatively quiet at the beginning of the year after the government decided against sending the team to the ongoing T20 World Cup. The men’s side is set to resume action with a three-match ODI series against Pakistan at home on March 12, 14 and 16.
