The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially confirmed that the players’ draft for the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will be held on 17 November. With limited time available, the BCB has accelerated its preparations for the tournament, which is expected to begin in mid-December.
Following a meeting of the BPL Governing Council, BCB Vice-President and Marketing Committee Chairman Shakawat Hossain announced the draft date and outlined several key updates for the forthcoming season.
The board is working with the expectation that five or six teams will take part, with franchise ownerships set to be finalised shortly.
In a significant development, the BCB has decided to expand the tournament’s venues. Alongside Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet, two additional stadiums in the Rajshahi and Barishal divisions are being considered. The Facilities Department has already inspected these venues, and if found suitable, matches could be played there for the first time.
This season will also see the introduction of a long-term revenue-sharing model. For the first time in BPL history, franchises will receive 30 percent of the tournament’s total profit, including income from television rights, ticket sales and ground rights.
Franchises will also receive in-match branding opportunities, with each team allocated 30 minutes of perimeter board time during matches, divided into two 15-minute slots. This will allow franchise owners to promote their own brands and sponsors.
The franchise fee has been set at 2 crore taka for the first year. For those awarded a five-year deal, the fee will increase annually by 15 percent. This means the fee will rise to 2.3 crore taka in the second season and continue increasing each year.
To ensure financial commitment and security, each franchise must also submit a bank guarantee of 10 crore taka, valid for six months. This guarantee will act as a safeguard for player payments, which the BCB will cover using the guarantee if necessary.
The tournament’s prize money has also been confirmed. The champion team will receive 2.75 crore taka, while the runners-up will be awarded 1.75 crore taka. The BCB has also indicated that additional prizes and incentives will be included in this year’s edition.
With the clock ticking, the BCB is pushing forward to deliver a more structured and commercially viable BPL, while also addressing longstanding demands from franchise owners.
