BPL Auction Postponed Amid Franchise Concerns

The auction for the twelfth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), originally scheduled for 23 November, has been postponed by one week. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced in a statement that the auction will now take place on 30 November at 3 pm in a five-star hotel in Dhaka.

According to the BCB, the rescheduling aims to ensure proper coordination among stakeholders and to organise a well-managed auction event. However, sources suggest that the main issue lies with the franchises’ bank guarantees. Each franchise is required to deposit a guarantee of BDT 10 crore. Despite two extensions of the deadline, one franchise has been unable to provide the bank guarantee. Of the four franchises that have submitted their guarantees, two have deposited only half the required amount. Nevertheless, the BCB considers this amount to be secure, and there is no doubt about these four teams’ participation in the tournament.

For the franchise unable to meet the guarantee, the BCB has already begun searching for new ownership. Among the initially interested parties, a new owner may be appointed, or the BCB may temporarily retain control of the franchise.

For this edition, Togi Sports, under the ownership of the Bashundhara Group, has acquired Rangpur Riders, while Triangular Services now owns Chattogram Royals. Nabil Group will operate Rajshahi Warriors, Cricket With Sami will run Sylhet Titans, and Champion Sports (Remark-Harlan) will take over Dhaka Capitals.

The BPL Governing Council has finalised the auction rules for the 2026 season, including base prices for players. Domestic players in the top ‘A’ category have been assigned a maximum base price of BDT 50 lakh, while foreign players in the same category have a maximum base price of USD 35,000. The auction will feature six categories for local players and five for overseas players.

The twelfth edition of the BPL is scheduled to begin in the third week of December.