Thousands of cricket fans gathered outside the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, hoping to secure tickets for the opening matches of the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Despite the large turnout, many were unaware that tickets were not being sold at the counters near Gate 1, leading to growing frustration and eventual chaos.

The situation escalated outside the main gate of the stadium as angry fans attempted to force their way in by breaking the large iron gates. Law enforcement intervened, resulting in a series of clashes. The disorder disrupted the arrival of players and officials, including the team bus of Durbar Rajshahi, which had to be redirected to an alternate entrance due to the unrest.

The confusion began when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced ticket sales less than 22 hours before the first match. Tickets were made available online through the BCB’s new website and at select branches of Madhumati Bank. However, many fans either missed the announcement or were unable to access tickets through these channels.

Long queues formed outside Madhumati Bank’s Mirpur branch, where ticket seekers grew restless due to delays. Although ticket sales were scheduled to start at 4 PM, fans reported waiting nearly two hours before they could purchase tickets. The delay fueled frustration, leading to vandalism at the bank by agitated fans.

Meanwhile, fans who arrived early at the stadium counters hoping to purchase tickets expressed their disappointment. Rezaul Suman, who had been waiting since 7 AM, shared his frustration, stating, "I regularly buy tickets from this counter. I thought today would be the same, but there are no tickets here."

By mid-morning, the situation outside Gate 1 remained relatively calm, but tensions escalated at the main gate. Furious fans tore down promotional banners, hoardings, and festoons set up for the BPL. Security personnel initially refrained from intervening but were forced to act as the crowd began shaking the gate. Riot police and BCB volunteers resorted to baton charges to disperse the mob, leading to clashes where angry fans retaliated by throwing stones and bricks.

The unrest affected players as well. Durbar Rajshahi’s team bus faced an onslaught from the crowd, prompting organizers to arrange an alternative entry route for the team. Similarly, Khulna Tigers' player Mehidy Hasan Miraz encountered difficulties entering the stadium for practice due to the chaos.

Rajibul Haque, a fan who had pre-booked tickets online, brought his family to watch the match. Despite securing his tickets, he expressed concern over the unruly scenes outside the stadium. Rajibul was unsure whether he needed to collect physical tickets from the bank and only confirmed his entry after showing his mobile ticket at the gate.

All gates to the stadium were eventually opened to fans around 12:30 PM. Those with printed or digital copies of their tickets gained entry after scanning them at the gates. However, while the situation outside the stadium was chaotic, the stands inside were sparsely filled. Even as the first ball of the match between Fortune Barishal and Durbar Rajshahi was bowled, the galleries remained far from full.

The BCB faced criticism for its lack of communication and delayed ticketing process, which many blamed for the chaos. Fans and observers alike called for better planning and a more efficient system to avoid such incidents in future tournaments.