"One million for the icons, how much for the others?"

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced the inaugural edition of the Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL), marking a historic step for women’s cricket in the country. The tournament will feature three franchises, with the players’ draft scheduled for 14 March. Selection committees have already begun categorising local players into salary brackets ahead of the draft.

Local cricketers will be divided into five categories, with the highest being the coveted “Icon” category. Each franchise will be entitled to one Icon player, chosen from the national team’s star trio. Icon players will receive a maximum remuneration of 10 lakh BDT, and the category is expected to include team captain Nigar Sultana, along with potential candidates for vice-captaincy Nahida Akter and Sobhna Mostari.

The second-highest local category, “A”, will comprise six players, with each franchise able to select two. Players in this tier are set to earn 7 lakh BDT each. The “B” category includes 12 players, each receiving 5 lakh BDT, while the “C” category is designed for around 20 players with a remuneration of 3 lakh BDT. Players who remain unsold in the C category may be moved to the “D” category, with a salary of 1.5 lakh BDT.

The final player categorisations are expected to be confirmed within a few days, according to women’s team selector Sajjad Ahmed.

Franchises may also negotiate directly with foreign players ahead of the draft. While the total number of overseas participants in the draft is yet to be finalised, proposed salaries for foreign cricketers are approximately USD 8,000 for A-category, USD 6,000 for B-category, and USD 3,000 for C-category. During matches, franchises must field two foreign players per game, with a minimum of four in the squad.

The WBPL matches are scheduled from 3 to 15 April, with Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur and Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram serving as potential venues. Franchises can participate by paying a 30 lakh BDT franchise fee. The BCB has already received interest from Nabil Group, owners of the Rajshahi Warriors, the reigning champions of the men’s BPL. Television rights and sponsorship deals are also being negotiated.

Proposed Player Categories and Salaries

This first edition of the WBPL represents a major milestone for women’s cricket in Bangladesh, promising exciting opportunities for local talent while attracting global stars to raise the standard of competition.