Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise owners are willing to wait for a year if the break helps bring meaningful reforms and allows the tournament to return with a more competitive and financially sustainable model. They have also called for a five-year BPL calendar to ensure long-term stability.
The franchise owners shared their views with reporters after meeting Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal on Saturday (August 29). Representatives of three franchises—Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Capitals and reigning champions Rajshahi Warriors—attended the meeting at the BCB headquarters.
Tamim has indicated that the BPL could be postponed for a year if the proposed reforms cannot be completed on time. The franchises welcomed the reform initiative but stressed that the new model must address long-standing concerns over sustainability, scheduling, player payments, franchise finances, integrity and professional relations between the board and franchise owners.
Rangpur Riders managing director and CEO Ishtiaq Sadeq said the BPL needs to be fundamentally restructured after lacking a sustainable long-term framework for the past decade.
“From the BCB’s perspective, the board has taken a short break at this moment to explore how the entire tournament can be organised better through a more sustainable model. Our discussion was very productive, and one word from Rajshahi that I really liked was ‘reform’,” Ishtiaq said.
“The BPL needs reform because we have been here for the last 10 years, but we still don't have a constructive vision or a sustainable model. So, whenever the next BPL takes place, we have requested a five-year calendar. If the BCB and franchise owners can develop these models together, it will be much better for the BPL in the long run,” he added.
Rajshahi Warriors CEO Moksadul Kamal Babu admitted that the potential break in the tournament’s annual cycle was disappointing but said the franchises were prepared to accept it in the greater interest of the league.
“Are we disappointed? Yes, definitely. Because continuity is very important for a league. When there is no continuity, the BPL is not just about a few days of matches. There is a lot of work for every franchise beyond that. From team building to sponsorships, we work on these things throughout the year,” he said.
Dhaka Capitals CEO Atik Fahad, however, issued a stronger warning, saying he would not be willing to continue under the same structure seen in the last two seasons.
“If it continues the way it has over the last two years, I will not stay. We have invested money for the last two years, but at the end of the day, I was the one who had to face the criticism from people,” Atik said.
He added that Tamim had made it clear that the BPL would continue, with the key question now being whether it would be held this year.
“The president said the BPL must take place. The important question now is whether it will happen this year. He asked us whether we want to continue the BPL as it has been run in previous years, or whether we want a transparent BPL through meaningful reforms,” Atik said.
