The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced plans to stage the next edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in mid-December, with five teams expected to take part. However, defending champions Fortune Barishal have requested a postponement, citing insufficient preparation time.
On Sunday, the BCB invited expressions of interest from reputed companies and organisations for franchise ownership rights for the next five seasons of the BPL, covering the 12th to the 16th editions.
Following the announcement, speculation arose that Fortune Barishal might not participate in the upcoming tournament. Team owner Mizanur Rahman dismissed those rumours in an interview with Cricbuzz.
“I never said we won’t play in the BPL,” Mizanur said. “I only pointed out that, for a team like ours, it is difficult to prepare properly in such a short time. That is why we requested a schedule extension. Everyone is calling me, and I have told the board that the current timeframe is too short for us to be ready.”
He added, “I didn’t say we won’t participate. But if the slot is changed, we will definitely play. We have always been involved with cricket and we are not stepping away.”
Mizanur has proposed that the tournament be pushed back to April or May 2026, giving teams more time to prepare. “I just asked for a bit of time… Why not hold it in April or May? What’s the problem? You can give the teams, including us, a bit of time to organise things properly. I don’t see the point in rushing it just for the sake of it, and I don’t think it’s right to hold the BPL without us,” he said.
The BCB has yet to respond to the request, but the tournament is still set to proceed in December with five participating teams.
In a separate interview with Dhaka Post, Mizanur reiterated that Barishal had not withdrawn from the competition. “Look, we haven’t said anywhere that we will not participate in the BPL. There are a few matters to be addressed. We’ve requested a slight delay in the schedule because bringing in some equipment takes time. Once Bulbul bhai returns to the country, we’ll have a detailed discussion,” he said.
His remarks suggest that logistical challenges are the main issue, not an unwillingness to compete. The franchise is awaiting further communication from the BCB to confirm its participation.
Barishal’s situation comes as the BCB prepares for the next BPL season, scheduled for December to January. Following recent board elections, the new committee led by director Iftekhar Rahman Mithu is keen to ensure the tournament goes ahead on time. However, there are still delays in event management from IMG, the foreign firm appointed to oversee the competition.
The BCB recently invited expressions of interest from companies aiming to own teams under regional identities. Up to five franchises are expected to be confirmed, with Fortune Barishal remaining a strong contender to return once logistical issues are resolved.
Several parties have already shown interest in franchise ownership, and the BPL committee is reviewing the submissions. A final decision regarding team participation, including Barishal’s, is expected by the end of the month.
