An official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated that the existing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 franchises will be given priority in selecting teams for the upcoming Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) T20 tournament.
The BCB director, Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, mentioned to The Daily Star that they will first approach the current BPL franchise owners to secure three teams for the women’s league.
In case the existing BPL franchises do not participate, the board will consider other options for team selection.
The BCB’s women’s division officially declared that the inaugural WBPL T20 event is scheduled to take place from April 3 to 15, marking the introduction of a franchise-based T20 competition for women in Bangladesh.
Local players, including national team members and rising talents, will be chosen through a draft process to maintain competitive balance and team strength. Additionally, franchises will have the opportunity to sign international players to elevate the tournament’s quality and offer local players exposure on the global stage.
The decision was made following discussions among BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul, board directors, and officials, aiming to enhance the competitive opportunities for women cricketers in the country.
During the meeting, it was noted that two possible time frames – early April and May – were considered for the tournament, with April being selected due to the better availability of foreign players.
The WBPL governing council will be overseen by Rubaba Dowla, who serves as a BCB director and chairs the BCB women’s division.
After the WBPL, the Sri Lankan women’s team is set to visit Bangladesh on April 17 for a three-match T20I series. Subsequently, the Bangladeshi women’s team will head to England and Wales for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled from June 12 to July 5.
