Last-Over Pressure and the Quiet Ledger: How Cricket's Digital Trust Is Being Built

December 19, 2026, Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Bangladesh versus Sri Lanka, the second T20 of the series. Ten runs were needed off the final over. I sat in front of the television in a Dhaka flat, watching Michael Bracewell bowl. Before each delivery the scoreboard on screen updated, and after each delivery a notification arrived on my phone from some fan page or other. But that night what stayed with me was something else — about an hour after the match ended I saw a tweet claiming that the ticket sales for that match had been recorded on a blockchain and that the record could be verified. When I tried to check that claim that night, I began to understand that the relationship between cricket and blockchain had started much earlier. In 2026, during the Indian Premier League, an analysis report stated that part of the tournament's commercial activity was being tracked using digital tokens. Reading that report, I realized that blockchain was arriving in cricket not for entertainment, but for accounting. This is even more significant in the context of Bangladesh. In 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board launched a new ticketing system in which information about online ticket purchases was stored. I myself bought a ticket through that system and noticed that the ticket carried a QR code which had to be scanned at the stadium on match day. Behind that QR code sits a digital record. It is not blockchain, but it works as preparation for a blockchain-based system. What is blockchain? In simple terms, it is a decentralized digital ledger in which transaction data is stored and can be verified. In cricket it could be used for ticket sales, player contracts, cricket-related commercial activities, and fundraising. In 2026, the England and Wales Cricket Board started a pilot project in which tickets for the tournament were sold through a blockchain-based platform. The purpose of that project was to prevent ticket fraud and verify the identity of sellers. In the Bangladesh context, there are several advantages to adopting this technology. First, ticket sales accounting becomes transparent. Second, player contracts and salary records can be easily verified. Third, in fundraising, donors can see where their money is being spent. However, there are some challenges behind adopting this technology. Internet connectivity varies across regions of Bangladesh, and many spectators still buy tickets with cash. Before implementing a blockchain-based system, spectators must be trained. Another issue is that blockchain usage consumes more electricity, which is a concern from an environmental point of view. From my personal experience, my love for cricket and my curiosity about technology have combined to encourage me to study blockchain in depth. In 2026, I attended an international cricket conference where a technology expert said that blockchain would transform the commercial aspects of cricket. As an example, he said that if player performance data is stored on blockchain, the scouting process will become more transparent. There is great potential for the use of blockchain in the Bangladesh Premier League. If sponsorship contracts, player bids, and team budgets are stored on blockchain, transparency will increase. I believe that in the coming years, Bangladesh's cricket board will move in this direction. In conclusion, cricket is close to our hearts as a game, but its commercial aspects are equally important. Blockchain technology can make cricket more transparent, reliable, and inclusive. I look forward to the day when blockchain technology is fully implemented in Bangladesh's cricket system and all of us can enjoy its benefits.