BCB confirms potential BPL 2026 schedule shift due to upcoming national elections

After the July 10 board meeting, BCB director and head of the BPL Governing Council, Mahbub Anam, spoke to the media about the problems with the BPL schedule. While the caretaker government has advised to prepare for elections by December, the actual voting could happen anytime between February and April.

Mahbub said, “If the election happens in December, we might need to shift the tournament to a later time.”

He also made it clear that even with this uncertainty, BCB will continue its work as planned. This includes team planning, marketing, and media rights deals. He added, “Two things are happening. First, we are going ahead with our internal process. Second, the government has asked us to be ready for elections by December. As the date gets closer, we will have a better idea. If we can't host the tournament in December-January, we have another option in May.”

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BPL May Shift Due to Election and Global Cricket Calendar

The possible change in the BPL schedule comes after an emergency board meeting held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, just a day after Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus directed officials to complete all election preparations by the end of this year. Though general elections in Bangladesh are expected in early 2026, planning must start now. If the new schedule is confirmed, the BPL will directly clash with IPL 2026, PSL 2026, and even the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will host in February.

Mahbub Anam Promises Big Changes for BPL

Mahbub Anam, the new BPL chairman, said that the league must raise its standards. He admitted that there were some problems in the past and said that BCB takes full responsibility. “We’ll try to increase the brand value of BPL,” he said.

He also said that the board is looking to add more venues besides Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. “If new venues meet ICC standards and provide good accommodation for players, we will include them,” Mahbub added.

Mahbub admitted that hosting the BPL in May could cause scheduling issues with both the IPL and PSL, but said BCB is keeping both windows open. “Our planning will not stop,” he said.

BCB to Involve All Stakeholders

To improve the BPL and make it more inclusive, Mahbub said that BCB will speak with key stakeholders, including media professionals, players, coaches, franchise owners, sponsors, and even fans. “From next week, we’ll start discussions to get feedback from all sides. We also want to know what the fans expect from the BPL,” Mahbub added.