BPL Season Twelve Begins in Sylhet

The 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) gets under way today, marking the return of the country’s flagship T20 competition amid high expectations from fans and stakeholders alike. The opening phase of the tournament will be hosted in Sylhet, with the grand final scheduled to take place in Dhaka on 23 January.

This year’s BPL will be staged across three venues—Sylhet, Chattogram and Dhaka—with a total of 34 matches to be played over nearly a month. The tournament curtain-raiser will see Sylhet Titans face Rajshahi Warriors at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium this afternoon, officially setting the tone for the new season. Later in the evening, Noakhali Express will take on Chattogram Royals in the second match of the opening day.

Following the Sylhet leg, the competition will move to Chattogram, before returning to the capital for the final phase in Dhaka. The play-off matches will be held exclusively at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh’s premier cricket venue. According to the schedule, the Eliminator and the first Qualifier will be played on 19 January, followed by the second Qualifier on 21 January. The much-anticipated final will be held on 23 January, with reserve days kept in place to account for any unforeseen interruptions.

A total of six teams are competing in this edition of the BPL: Dhaka Capitals, Sylhet Titans, Chattogram Royals, Rangpur Riders, Rajshahi Warriors and Noakhali Express. Tournament organisers hope that the relatively compact format and clearly structured schedule will ensure smoother operations and sustained excitement throughout the league.

The opening in Sylhet is expected to draw strong local support, as the city has increasingly established itself as a vibrant cricketing hub. With matches spread across afternoon and evening slots, fans across the country will have ample opportunity to follow their favourite teams and players.

Despite recent off-field challenges surrounding franchise management, cricket lovers remain eager for competitive action on the field. The BPL continues to serve as a vital platform for domestic cricketers to showcase their talent alongside experienced performers, while also contributing to the growth of Bangladesh’s professional cricket ecosystem.

As the tournament begins, attention will now shift from administrative debates to performances with bat and ball, with organisers hoping that the cricket itself will take centre stage over the coming weeks.

BPL 2025–26: Match Schedule (Selected Overview)

With the stage set in Sylhet and the final destination fixed in Dhaka, the 12th edition of the BPL promises weeks of high-intensity cricket, fierce rivalries and renewed hope that the action on the pitch will define the tournament.