The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for this year, with board president Tamim Iqbal saying the tournament needs a major restructuring before it can return.
The BPL, Bangladesh’s premier domestic T20 competition, has faced several challenges in recent years, including financial losses, franchise-related issues and corruption concerns. Tamim said several franchises failed to follow league rules and regulations, while unpaid dues and problems involving bank guarantees have also affected the competition.
According to figures reported by Prothom Alo, the BCB suffered losses of nearly 400 million Bangladeshi taka (around $3.27 million) over the last two BPL seasons. Tamim stressed that the board should make profits from franchise cricket rather than continue hosting the tournament at a loss.
The league also came under scrutiny after the BCB suspended a player and multiple team officials in May following an anti-corruption investigation into betting violations.
Despite the suspension, Tamim insisted that the BPL will return. He said the board is in discussions with existing franchises and expects to complete the franchise selection process by April or May next year. The BCB is also considering allowing foreign franchises to participate in the revamped tournament.
Tamim said the board could take six to 12 months to rebuild the competition properly, rather than rushing its return.
