The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is about to get a major overhaul. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is looking at everything from long-term franchise deals to how they sell media rights.
The man leading the charge, new BPL chairman Mahbub Anam, is signaling a massive shift in philosophy. He told reporters this week that the league’s reputation is more important than a quick buck. “This league needs investment,” he said bluntly. “It’s not just about making money right away.”
BCB officials confirmed that the board is looking into unresolved payments from the most recent BPL season, which was organized by Faruque Ahmed. This includes pending dues to players and other stakeholders.
While the league once stood just behind the IPL in global popularity, Anam noted that without long-term planning, the BPL cannot sustain itself. “If you enter a business, you don’t always profit in year one. Sometimes it takes three years,” he said. “We need franchises committed to the long run.”
A meeting of the BPL Governing Council is expected within the week, ahead of the board’s June 30 session. Key decisions on tournament structure, franchise allocation, and administrative roles are likely.
Anam also stressed the need to bring in experts from legal, commercial, and financial backgrounds. He proposed forming a dedicated team that will work year-round on BPL matters. “There should even be a voice from the franchises. We’re all in this together.”
In the immediate term, the focus is on selling media rights. The BCB plans to offer television, global, and OTT rights as separate categories for a two-year cycle through 2027.
Officials acknowledged the challenges. “The global market is soft. Wars and instability aren’t helping,” one board member said.
Still, by splitting the rights into distinct packages — local TV, global TV, and streaming — the BCB hopes to attract a wider pool of bidders. Some buyers may focus on just Bangladesh, others on the Caribbean, or specific OTT platforms.
The move marks a clear attempt to professionalize the league’s commercial operations and avoid past delays in payment and planning.
More updates are expected following the upcoming board meeting.
