"We have few changes. Four or five. Because no foreigners today. All the local players are playing today," Taskin said.

The BPL's rules state that a team must field a minimum of two overseas players in their XI this season. The BCB put out a statement soon after the toss saying the tournament's technical committee had granted approval for an all-local XI in this instance. "The Durbar Rajshahi team... has applied to the BPL Technical Committee for special approval to field a team consisting solely of Bangladeshi players for today's match against Rangpur Riders due to the non-availability of overseas players," the BCB said. "After a review of the request and in accordance with the provisions outlined in Clause 1.2.8 of the Match Playing Conditions of BPL 2024-25, the Technical Committee has granted approval for Durbar Rajshahi to field a team consisting of only Bangladeshi players for this match."

The Rajshahi team owner Rahman also ran into trouble with their Chattogram hotel when he couldn't pay that bill on time. TV reports showed a security person stationed outside his hotel room, and a car he was using was reportedly seized.

The team changed hotels in Dhaka on Sunday morning. The overseas players remained at the hotel in Dhaka while Sunday's match got underway at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.