The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has called off Tuesday’s double headers of the BPL 2025-26 season following former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s death earlier in the morning.

The board made the announcement a couple of hours before the first match on December 30, which was played between the Sylhet Titans and Chattogram Royals in Sylhet.

Meanwhile, the second match of the day was set to be held between Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders at the same venue.

“The BCB recalls with gratitude her (Zia’s) constant blessings and good wishes for the progress of cricket in this country,” a BCB statement said.

“During her tenure as Prime Minister, she provided outstanding support for the development of cricket in Bangladesh, significantly contributing to improvements in cricket infrastructure and the sport’s growth nationwide. Her vision and encouragement helped pave the way for many of the advancements the game enjoys today,” it added.

“In respect of the nation’s mourning and in honour of Begum Khaleda Zia’s legacy, the BCB announces that today’s scheduled Bangladesh Premier League matches have been cancelled and will be rescheduled. Further details on the revised fixtures will be communicated in due course,” it read.

Begum Khaleda Zia died in the early morning today while she was undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was admitted to Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital on November 23 with a lung infection.

The former Prime Minister has been suffering from Various Physical ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, Arthritis, liver Cirrhosis and kidney complications for a long time.

According to the BNP statement, Zia died around 06:00 AM (local time), shortly after Fajr Prayer. “Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6:00 am, just after Fajr prayer,” the BNP statement read.

“We pray for the eternal peace of her soul and ask everyone to pray for her departed soul,” it added.

A large crowd gathered outside the hospital even as Begum Zia’s son and acting chairman of BNP, Tarique Rahman, arrived to pay his respects to his late mother.