The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is currently being played across its three usual venues — Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is now thinking about expanding the tournament by adding another venue.

The update came from BCB Director and Head of Cricket Operations, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, who spoke to the media during a warm-up match between the Bangladesh Tigers and the High Performance (HP) Unit in Chattogram.

Bangladesh’s only franchise-based T20 tournament has often faced criticism, with many asking for modernization and reform. In response, the BCB is again promising to improve the BPL. Under the leadership of governing council member Mahbub Anam, the board is taking planned steps to raise the BPL’s profile on the global stage.

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BCB Plans to Add a New Venue in the Next BPL Season

While a full home-and-away format in the BPL is not yet possible, BCB Director and Head of Cricket Operations, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, said that adding one more venue for the upcoming edition would be a big step forward.

“It might not be possible right away, since preparing a venue takes time. But yes, we're considering it. If we can move from three to four venues this year, it would be fantastic,” Fahim said.

He added, “Looking ahead, if more grounds are made ready and included, BPL can move to the next level.” The BCB had earlier shown interest in expanding the BPL beyond its regular cities so that more fans across the country can watch live matches and to improve regional cricket facilities. Barishal and Rajshahi stadiums are under consideration, while Bogura’s Shaheed Chandu Stadium is unlikely due to logistical and infrastructure problems. Fahim said the goal is to add one new venue every year so that eventually each BPL team will have its home ground.

Possible Asia Cup Impact and Event Management Changes

The warm-up match between the Bangladesh Tigers and the HP Unit led to questions about whether good performances there could affect selection for the Asia Cup 2025. Fahim explained that while there is no direct link, standout players could still catch the selectors’ eye.

“Not directly. There are players here who could make the Asia Cup squad if they get a chance. But that’s up to the selectors. One or two names might be considered, but the focus here is on prospects—players who may soon challenge those in the national team,” he said.

In another major move, the BCB is planning to hand over BPL event management to an external company. On July 10, they invited event management firms to submit their interest. Five companies responded, including four from abroad.

Among the interested companies, the most well-known is IMG, which managed the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 to 2021. The IPG Group, which organises the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is also in the running. The other contenders are Apex Sports Consulting, Real Impact and Absolute Legends Sports, and Mind Tree Limited and Transport Group. The BCB is expected to choose the final event organiser soon.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has long faced criticism for delayed player payments, disorganized tournament schedules, and weak broadcasting. But change may finally be coming.

International sports broadcasting company IPG Group, which has experience organizing leagues like the IPL, CPL, and LPL, has shown strong interest in managing the upcoming BPL season. Their aim is to fix the league’s structure and bring it up to global standards.

Speaking to the media, IPG’s CEO Anil Mohan said, “BPL is actually a fantastic league. But over the years, its model and management haven’t been handled properly. This league has more potential than many in the subcontinent. The current model needs fixing, there are issues, but we can solve them.”

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IPG Plans to Bring Global Standards to BPL

IPG has been successfully running the Lanka Premier League (LPL) for the past five years, managing everything from team ownership and sponsorships to production and broadcasting. “If you’ve seen LPL’s production quality, you’ll understand the level I’m talking about,” said Mohan.

Mohan believes that ownership and player consistency are key to improving the BPL. “You need the right owners and the right players every year. Timing is also critical. If BPL clashes with other leagues like IPL or PSL, you lose top talent. Fixing the schedule will bring in more sponsors and higher player participation,” he added.

Mohan praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), saying it is “better than many” in terms of financial and commercial strength. “They’re better than Sri Lanka’s board in many ways. I’ve worked globally in South Africa, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, the USA, and Ireland, and I can confidently say BCB is well-positioned. That’s why I believe we can make BPL a top-tier league.”

New Franchise Structure for the Next Season

On foreign investment and team ownership, Mohan said, “The main idea is to bring in better owners, ideally from markets like the UK. That will lead to higher spending, better management, and more sponsor interest. Right now, BPL is falling behind. Media rights, scheduling, and player recruitment all need realignment. If we fix these, top players will want to come.”

IPG is currently in talks with the BCB to secure a management role in the tournament. They plan to use their global experience to work with the board and fix the system if needed.

The BPL Governing Council has ended contracts with the previous franchises. As a result, the upcoming season, likely to be held in December 2025 through January 2026, will start with an entirely new franchise structure.

Fortune Barishal, the reigning champions of the last two editions, will also need to reapply under the new system.

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.

🏏 Bangladesh Premier League might be held at the same time as IPL and PSL next year due to the T20 World Cup and the elections in the country.

(Geo News)#Cricket pic.twitter.com/9PIoXnVyUS

— Ramzy 🇵🇰🇬🇧 (@Ramz_004) July 11, 2025

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.