After a long gap of 12 years, the players’ auction is set to make a grand return to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The BPL Governing Council and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Wednesday that the auction will be held at a Dhaka hotel on November 23, marking the beginning of a new era for the franchise-based T20 tournament.
The BPL’s first two editions (2012 and 2013) followed an auction model, while the next nine adopted a players’ draft system. For the league’s 12th edition, organisers are bringing back the traditional bidding format to increase excitement, transparency, and global competitiveness.
Five franchises — Dhaka Capitals, Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Titans — will participate in this year’s auction.
According to a BCB statement:
“This year’s auction marks the start of a new franchise ownership cycle and introduces a transparent, structured bidding process designed to align the BPL with international T20 franchise standards.”
🔸 Key Details of the New Auction System
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Auction Date | 23 November 2025 |
| Venue | A Dhaka hotel |
| Total Franchises | 5 |
| Local Player Categories | 6 |
| Overseas Player Categories | 5 |
| Local ‘A’ Category Base Price | BDT 50 lakh (increment: BDT 5 lakh) |
| Top Overseas Category Base Price | USD 35,000 (increment: USD 5,000) |
| Local Player Budget Cap | BDT 4.5 crore (excluding direct signings) |
| Foreign Player Budget Cap | USD 350,000 (including direct signings) |
| Minimum Local Players to Buy | 11 (maximum 15) |
| Minimum Overseas Players to Buy | 2 |
| Overseas Players in Playing XI | 2–4 |
| Direct Signing Rule | Up to 2 local (A or B) and 1–2 foreign players |
| Payment Schedule | 25% on signing, 55% before last league match, 20% within 30 days after season ends |
| Final Squad Submission | Within 24 hours after auction concludes |
The auction will be conducted in two phases — local players first, followed by overseas cricketers. All financial transactions will comply with National Board of Revenue (NBR) tax regulations.
Every player’s contract will be prepared under the BCB’s standard tripartite agreement (BCB–Franchise–Player) to ensure fairness and accountability.
Cricket insiders believe this long-awaited return of the auction system will inject new energy into the BPL, attracting more international stars and boosting fan engagement across Bangladesh and abroad.
Khaborwala/SJ
