As the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) looks to revamp its domestic cricket structure and bring all three formats under one umbrella, a new name has emerged for the proposed competition.
The tournament is likely to be called the Bangladesh Trophy, having initially been proposed under the name Bangladesh First, TIMES of Bangladesh has learned from a source involved in the development.
However, the proposal remains at an initial stage and is subject to approval at a BCB Board meeting.
Under the proposed model, which is understood to be inspired by county cricket structures, six teams would compete across all three formats, four-day first-class cricket, List A one-day cricket and T20s.
Interested franchises would acquire teams for an initial period of three seasons.
A BCB official told TIMES that the proposed structure has already been communicated to the relevant departments, although the final model will require approval from the Board.
“Yes, as we all know, there have been a lot of discussions about revamping the domestic structure. We are trying to bring our tournaments in all three formats under one roof,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
According to the proposed model, 50 percent of potential revenue generated through television rights and ticket sales could be distributed equally among the six teams.
The T20 competition is expected to be televised, while BCB may live-stream the matches in the four-day and one-day formats.
The proposed squad structure would initially allow each franchise to have a pool of 28 players. A 15-member squad would be declared before each tournament from the contracted group, with player contracts expected to be valid for three years.
Each team would also have its own manager, coaching staff, physio, trainer, analyst, team boys and a franchise representative.
The BCB is also considering introducing an internal player transfer system and a team-to-team player trading mechanism for the first time in Bangladesh domestic cricket.
Sources said the proposed model also includes a separate draft for coaches, which would take place around 15 days before the players’ draft. Once franchises take control of their teams, the BCB would have no direct role in team selection.
Several corporate brands have already expressed interest in the proposed domestic cricket model, according to sources familiar with the development.
“We have a few renowned brands and companies interested in the proposed model. However, everything is still at a preliminary stage, and we expect more big names to come forward,” the source said.
Franchises would be required to pay Tk 2.50 crore per season in three instalments. The BCB, however, is expected to bear the operational costs, including transportation and logistics, under its standard arrangements.
The prize money for the three formats is yet to be finalised, while the tournament calendar also remains under discussion.
As things stand, Bangladesh’s domestic season is scheduled to begin with the National Cricket League four-day competition on October 3, featuring the existing eight divisional teams.
The future of the NCL T20, meanwhile, had become closely linked to the fate of the Bangladesh Premier League. BCB president Tamim Iqbal has already confirmed that the Board is not prepared to stage the 13th edition of the BPL because of time constraints, with the Board wanting to organise the tournament properly rather than rushing into it.
The issue has already led to two meetings between the Board and cricketers.
In the latest development, following a meeting on Tuesday, Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) president Mohammad Mithun said there was little realistic scope to compensate for the financial losses caused by the absence of the BPL through another tournament.
According to Mithun, given the financial loss caused by the absence of the BPL, there is no realistic possibility of making up for it by organising another tournament. Instead, efforts are being made to improve the financial well-being of cricketers through regular domestic competitions, including the NCL, BCL and other tournaments.
