Bangladesh’s premier T20 competition, the Bangladesh Premier League, will not take place this year.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal announced the decision on Thursday. The board plans to overhaul the troubled tournament before bringing it back.
BCB Cites Franchise Problems
Tamim said some BPL franchises had breached rules and regulations.
The BCB has also faced issues involving unpaid dues and bank guarantees. These problems have added financial pressure to the tournament.
According to Tamim, the BCB lost around $3.3 million from the BPL over the past two years.
Therefore, the board does not want to continue holding the competition without fixing its underlying problems.
Board Wants BPL to Make a Profit
Tamim described the BPL as a valuable cricket product with strong public interest.
However, he said the board needs to run the tournament properly. Better management could increase interest in the competition even further.
He stressed that franchise cricket should generate profits for the BCB. Instead, the board has suffered financial losses in recent seasons.
For that reason, Tamim said the BCB will focus on rebuilding the competition before scheduling another edition.
Tamim Refuses to Rush Overhaul
The BCB president said the board remains fully committed to hosting the BPL.
However, he does not want to rush the restructuring process. The board could take six months or even 12 months to complete the overhaul.
Tamim said the BCB wants to rebuild the tournament properly. The board believes a stronger structure will help protect the BPL’s future.
Franchise Cricket Experience Drives Decision
Tamim recently became chairman of the International Cricket Council’s newly formed Franchise League Committee.
He said Bangladesh’s experience with the BPL makes the overhaul especially important.
According to Tamim, his committee should learn from problems within Bangladesh’s own franchise competition.
Stopping the tournament and rebuilding it could also send a strong message about proper franchise management.
BCB Plans New Franchise Process
The BCB has already started communicating with existing franchises.
The board aims to complete the franchise process by April or May next year.
This timeline will give the BCB enough time to find alternatives if any franchise fails to meet its obligations.
The board also remains open to foreign franchises. Their participation could bring new investment and experience to the competition.
New GD Trophy Also Launched
Tamim made the announcement during the launch of the Game Development Trophy.
The new tournament will feature Bangladesh’s under-17, under-19 and under-23 teams.
Meanwhile, the BCB will continue working on the BPL overhaul.
The board hopes the restructuring process will eventually create a stronger and more profitable competition.
