The Bangladesh Premier League auction will take place at 3pm on 30 November at the Radisson Blu Hotel, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the tournament starting on 19 December.
BCB announced that this year’s BPL will feature six teams, with Noakhali joining as the sixth franchise under the name Noakhali Express. IMG, which has previously worked with the BCB on IPL related events, will act as the league’s event management partner from the next season, though they will not be involved in the upcoming tournament.
Over 500 foreign players applied for this season’s auction, from which 250 have been shortlisted by the board, said Iftikhar Rahman Mithu at the press conference. The tournament will conclude on 19 January, with an opening ceremony planned in Dhaka on 17 December.
The BCB had previously finalised five franchises but had indicated plans to expand the league, which was implemented by adding Noakhali and delaying the auction. On 5 November, the governing council confirmed franchises for the next five editions.
The six participating teams will be Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Capitals, Sylhet Titans, Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, and newcomers Noakhali Express. Ahead of the auction, each team has the opportunity to sign two domestic and two foreign players directly.
Direct contracts include Taskin Ahmed and Saif Hasan for Dhaka, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan Tamim for Rajshahi, Nasum Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Miraz for Sylhet, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mustafizur Rahman for Rangpur, and Tanvir Islam and Sheikh Mehedi for Chattogram. Several foreign players have also been signed by the franchises.
The announcement marks the latest step in the BPL’s expansion, while maintaining a balance between domestic talent and international experience in the league.
