BPL Delayed for Equipment Preparation

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has announced a delay in its opening schedule, pushing back the much-anticipated tournament by one week. The inaugural ceremony, originally slated for 17 December at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, will now take place on 24 December. Similarly, the first match at Sylhet International Stadium, initially scheduled for 19 December, will now be held on 26 December.

Sakhawat Hossain, a member of the BPL Governing Council, explained that the delay was intended to give franchises sufficient time to purchase essential cricket gear, including bats and pads. “Teams need proper time to acquire equipment and prepare adequately,” he said.

Despite the schedule change, the player draft will proceed as planned on 30 November, with the list of players largely finalised. Notably, this year’s draft will feature India’s Piyush Chawla, a former international who last played in 2012. Chawla will become the first Indian to play in the BPL after being signed by a franchise, marking a historic moment for the league.

Over 500 foreign players registered for this year’s draft, with approximately 250 selected after verification. Sri Lanka leads the count with 51 players, followed by Pakistan with 45 and the West Indies with 30. In the ‘A’ category, prominent players such as Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Jonathan Charles, Shoaib Malik, Wayne Parnell, and Matheesha Pathirana will feature.

Teams may register as many foreign players as they wish but can field a maximum of four per match. Franchises must also recruit at least two foreign players from the draft, and a minimum of 12 local players, with quotas across all categories.

With these adjustments, franchises now have additional time to prepare strategically, ensuring a competitive and well-equipped tournament for both players and fans.