Taskin, Mushfiqur Demoted as BCB Announces 2026 Central Contracts; No Player in A+ Category

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has unveiled its 2026 central contracts for the national men’s team, with notable changes at the top of the gradation system. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim have both been demoted, and no player has been placed in the highest A+ category this year.

Taskin, who was the lone cricketer in the A+ bracket in 2025 earning BDT 1 million (approximately US$8,169) per month, has been moved down to Grade A. He now joins Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and T20I captain Litton Das in the second tier. Players in Grade A will earn BDT 800,000 (approximately US$6,535) per month.

The reasons behind Taskin’s demotion remain unclear, particularly given his consistent performances across formats. Team management has frequently managed his workload in a bid to preserve his fitness and impact in Test, ODI and T20I cricket.

Mushfiqur, who retired from ODIs in 2025, has also slipped down the rankings. After being in Grade A last year, he has been placed in Grade B for 2026, earning BDT 600,000 (approximately US$4,901) per month. He is joined in that category by 10 other players, including Test regulars Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam and Shadman Islam.

Shadman is among four players promoted from Grade C to Grade B, alongside Tanzid Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan.

The BCB has expanded the lower tiers as well. Grade D, which featured only two cricketers last year, now includes seven players. Among them are Saif Hassan and Nurul Hasan, both of whom returned to the T20I setup in 2025.

Grades C and D offer monthly retainers of BDT 400,000 (approximately US$3,267) and BDT 200,000 (approximately US$1,633), respectively.

Bangladesh have endured a slow start to the year after the government decided not to send the team to the ongoing T20 World Cup. The side will resume international action with a three-match ODI series against Pakistan national cricket team at home on March 12, 14 and 16.

BCB Central Contracts 2026

Grade A: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed

Grade B: Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

Grade C: Soumya Sarkar, Jaker Ali, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed

Grade D: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanvir Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan