BPL franchises willing to skip a year for reforms, demand five-year calendar

BPL franchises said on August 29, 2026, that they were prepared to wait a year for the tournament if the Bangladesh Cricket Board could complete the reforms needed to put the league on a sustainable footing. The franchises also called for a five-year calendar to help attract top international players to the competition.

BCB president Tamim Iqbal held a meeting at BCB headquarters with representatives of three franchises: Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Capitals and defending champions Rajshahi Warriors. Tamim had earlier stated on August 21, 2026, that the BPL would not happen this year and that the BCB had incurred losses of around 40 crore Bangladeshi Taka across the past two seasons. He also said he hoped to have franchises ready by April-May 2027.

Tamim told the franchises that the BPL could be postponed until next year if the proposed reforms could not be completed in time. He described the discussions as productive and highlighted the word 'reform' raised by Rajshahi Warriors as something he welcomed.

"As for the BCB’s point of view, right now the BCB has taken a short break and is looking at how the entire tournament can be organised in a better way, with a more sustainable model. Our discussion was very fruitful, and among the three franchises that were here, there was a word from Rajshahi that I really liked: ‘reform,’" said Rangpur Riders managing director and CEO Ishtiaque Sadeque as quoted by Cricbuzz.

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Ishtiaque said the BPL had gone a decade without a constructive or sustainable structure and that a five-year calendar was essential for franchises to compete in the global T20 market. He noted that at least 20 franchise cricket competitions operate in the international T20 market, leaving the BPL with the lowest priority when franchises try to contract players.

"The BPL needs reform because we have been here for the last 10 years, but we don’t have any constructive ideas and we don’t have any sustainable model and so whenever the next BPL takes place, we have asked for a five-year calendar," Ishtiaque said.

He elaborated on the financial difficulties facing franchises, pointing to outstanding player payments that had been running for seven or eight months after January 2026. He added that sponsor defaults were a key driver of the problem.

"Actually, you know better than us that, as far as the players’ bread and butter is concerned, this is how it is here. At the same time, when the BPL ends, these very players then chase the franchises. I have no shame in saying that Rangpur Riders have been here for 10 years; this has never happened to us. But even now, after January, today it has probably been running for seven or eight months, and we still have payments remaining for some local and international players," said Ishtiaque.

"Because the sponsors who had agreements with us do not make the payments according to their commitments. And the market situation is getting so bad day by day that it will get even worse. So, rather than holding a nominal BPL, committing to paying Tk 30 lakh but then not paying the player the last Tk 15 lakh, not answering the phone and disappearing—it is better to take some time and do it under a good model," he added.

The franchises also discussed what a reformed model would look like, including the time slot, specific dates and a five-year window.

"If the two sides, the BCB and the franchises, can develop these models together, eventually, in the long run, it will be much better for the BPL. We also discussed what the model would be like, starting from this time slot, which dates it would be held on, and for five years. From whenever the next BPL takes place, we have asked for a five-year calendar. Because when we go to contract players, in the international T20 market, there are a minimum of 20 franchise cricket competitions taking place. So our BPL gets the lowest priority. When we want to bring top-class players, we have said that we need to be given the calendar for five years," said Ishtiaque.

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Rajshahi Warriors CEO Moksadul Kamal Babu acknowledged that breaking the BPL's annual cycle was a concern but said the franchise was prepared to accept it for the greater good. He pointed out that franchises carry out year-round work well beyond the playing days of the tournament itself.

"Are we disappointed? Yes, we certainly are, because the continuity of a league is very important. When a league does not have continuity, the BPL is not just about a few days of matches. Beyond that, every franchise has a lot of work to do. From building the team to sponsorships, we work on these things throughout the entire year. So, from that perspective, having this continuity broken is somewhat of a disruption. But we are perhaps accepting that disruption for the greater good," said Moksadul.

Dhaka Capitals CEO Atik Fahad took a firmer position, saying he would not continue under the same framework that had governed the last two editions. Atik also described how Tamim had framed the choice for franchises at the meeting.

"If it continues the way it has been for the last two years, I will not stay. For the last two years we have invested money, but at the end of the day I am the one who has received the abuse from people. He threw some questions at us — whether we want the BPL to continue the way it has been conducted in previous years or whether we want a clean BPL through reforms. The president has said that the BPL will definitely happen. Now the important question is whether it will happen this year," said Atik.

Tamim was expected to meet the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh on August 30, 2026, to continue discussions on the BPL's future and the proposed reforms.