‘First ever Women’s BPL is coming. How does it feel?’
As soon as the question was finished, Marufa Akter could not wait to answer. There was visible excitement on her face. Happiness was shining through despite two hours of practice under the scorching heat followed by a one-hour gym session. With a big smile, she said, “I cannot even express how excited I am.”
However, in the very next moment, Marufa held back her emotions because of the old ghost of the WBPL. There were at least two previous occasions when talks of a Women’s BPL surfaced but it eventually did not take place. Back in January 2025, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, then BPL member secretary, announced plans for it, but it remained only table talk.
Marufa reflected that caution in her tone. “Twice before, there were talks of the WBPL but it did not happen. So this time I decided to wait and not show too much excitement, because sometimes showing too much excitement can bring disappointment.”
According to Bangladesh Cricket Board Women’s Wing chairperson Rubaba Dowla, the first ever WBPL, featuring three teams, is scheduled to begin on 4 April in Chattogram, with the final slated for 14 April at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Pahela Baishakh. A players’ draft will be held, four categories have been set, and foreign cricketers will also be eligible to take part in the draft.
Still, Marufa prefers to wait a little longer before fully celebrating. “I thought, let it happen first, then I will celebrate. Now as it is almost official, I am truly very happy and excited.”
What essence does the WBPL bring to her? What does it mean to her? Marufa emphasised development of character and skills. “The more domestic leagues we have, the more it helps us improve as players. Playing more domestic cricket gives us better opportunities to develop our skills.”
The young pacer also noted that the WBPL will create opportunities for young cricketers and help them grow for the future. “It is also very important for younger and newer players who are learning the game. When they see that there are many matches being played in the country, they will feel motivated,” Marufa said. “I believe that if they practice hard and stay focused, they will also get opportunities. Overall, it helps in building future players and strengthens women’s cricket.”
Experienced Bangladesh opener Farzana Hoque Pinky also wants to keep her feet on the ground because of past experiences. The old ghost still haunts them. Speaking to Times of Bangladesh, Pinky said, “We are not overly excited.”
Why is that? Pinky explained, “Still, there are two or three more steps to go. A lot of the process is yet to be completed. So in that sense, we are not overly excited. If it happens, Alhamdulillah. If not, we are not reacting too much this time.”
Pinky also noted that they are keeping calm until the final decision comes. The 32-year-old opener reflected on the mindset inside the dressing room. “As women cricketers, we are keeping a calm mindset. Earlier, we used to be more gossip-prone or very excited and used to discuss a lot.”
Pinky praised Women’s Wing chairperson and NSC nominated BCB director Rubaba Dowla for taking the initiative.
“Many thanks to the women’s wing, especially to our chairperson Rubaba Dowla maam. Whether she succeeds fully or not, she was very concerned about the BPL from the very beginning, and she has been able to come this far and we continue to believe in her efforts,” Pinky said.
Meanwhile, Fahima Khatun echoed similar sentiments and also praised Rubaba. “Actually, I would say that we had a request to our new chairperson, Rubaba Dowla, that the BPL should start, even if on a small scale. Thanks to her.”
Fresh from leading Bangladesh A in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars, Fahima said they are very excited about the WBPL. “We were excited about it. Everyone who will play is very excited. Whoever gets the chance to play will consider themselves lucky, because this is the first women’s BPL in the country’s history. We are very pleased that it is starting, even if in a small way.”
What impact will the WBPL have on the country’s women’s fraternity? Fahima believes the upcoming tournament could open doors for local cricketers in foreign franchise leagues. “If our BPL starts, it can open doors for many more players to participate in other leagues in the future,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of having a franchise league. “Since we have seen leagues like the women version of IPL, Big Bash, and The Hundred in the past, we also had expectations to have a tournament like that.”
On the other side of hope there is still uncertainty because of past experiences. “Regarding the last two or three times, there were discussions but everything fell apart and ended up in nothing, which triggered criticisms about the WBPL,” Pinky said.
At the same time, Pinky praised the new structure, as player categories, payments and draft details have been announced by the BCB. Despite past uncertainty, the 164-cap veteran said, “From a personal point of view, I can say that the structure is much better than before and is running through a very good process. Whether the plan of the Women’s Wing chairperson succeeds or not, I want to thank her.”
Pinky added that they want to bank on Rubaba Dowla’s efforts. “She was very concerned about the BPL from the very beginning, and she has been able to come this far and we continue to believe in her efforts.”
Pinky believes the WBPL will help develop local players as they will get the chance to share dressing rooms with foreign cricketers and compete in high-stakes matches.
“Our domestic women’s cricket structure is very limited. Players do not get enough matches, especially in T20s. A franchise tournament like this is important for development,” Pinky said.
