Bangladesh’s focus may have shifted away from the ongoing global men’s tournament, but its long-term investment in the domestic game is gathering pace. With women’s cricket expanding rapidly across the world, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has now stepped into the franchise arena.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board officially announced the launch of the Women’s Bangladesh Premier League T20, marking the country’s first franchise-based T20 competition for women. The inaugural edition is scheduled to run from April 3 to 15 and will feature three teams.
Women’s BPL structure and format
The new league will operate under a franchise model, with squads assembled through a player draft system for local cricketers. In addition, teams will be permitted to recruit overseas professionals, a move aimed at enhancing competitive balance and raising the overall standard of the tournament.
The competition is expected to bring together established national players and emerging domestic talents. Cricketers such as Nigar Sultana Joty, Nahida Akter and Marufa Akter are likely to be part of the inaugural season.
Rubaba Dowla, a Bangladesh Cricket Board director and Chairperson of the BCB Women’s Wing, has been appointed as Chairperson of the Women’s BPL Governing Council.
The introduction of the WBPL places Bangladesh alongside other nations that have invested in women’s franchise cricket, including India’s Women’s Premier League, Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League, The Hundred’s women’s competition, New Zealand’s Women’s Super Smash and the Women’s Caribbean Premier League.
Nigar Sultana on long-awaited league launch
Bangladesh’s leadership views the Women’s BPL as a long-term structural step rather than just another tournament. For the national side, it represents a professional pathway that has been discussed for years.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, captain Nigar Sultana stressed how the competition could elevate standards within the squad and across the domestic system. “It would be a huge experience for both local players and those interested in the game. If we can bring in top-class players from world cricket who regularly play franchise leagues and have them share the dressing room and their experiences, the overall quality of cricket will improve. With the T20 World Cup ahead of us, this would be the best possible preparation,” she said, pointing to the immediate competitive benefits.
She then acknowledged that the launch had been a long time coming. “I have been hearing for many years that this (WBPL) was going to happen, so finally the announcement has come. Obviously, it is good news. We have always said that there should be a competitive franchise tournament for women. Other countries are already playing women’s franchise-based T20 tournaments, and it’s paying dividends for them,” she added, framing the tournament as a necessary step in Bangladesh’s evolution.
Preparation pathway for Women’s T20 World Cup
With qualification for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup already secured after progressing through the Super Six stage of the Global Qualifier in Nepal, the timing of the WBPL adds further relevance.
Sultana explained that exposure to franchise environments is critical for modern T20 growth. “If you want to compete in world cricket in the T20 format, you have to look at how other countries are progressing through franchise cricket. Most players take part in franchise leagues in different places, and that is how their skill levels develop in various ways. So for us, this would be a very good opportunity,” she told Cricbuzz.
As April approaches, the Women’s BPL now stands as both a developmental milestone and a preparatory platform for Bangladesh’s ambitions on the global stage.
