BCB sets strict financial enforcement ahead of BPL 2025
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has issued a strong ultimatum to Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchises ahead of the upcoming season: meet your financial obligations on time or risk being taken over — even mid-tournament.
“We have given the financial instruments and if they can’t abide by it, the cricket board is ready to take over the teams. Any irregularity in integrity, since we want the tournament to be very clean in terms of payment and integrity – if we see any problems, we will take over the team,” Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, the BPL Governing Council secretary said.
“If the franchises fail to give money on time BCB will take over the teams, and if that happens at the middle of the tournament we will take over the team at the middle of the tournament,” he reiterated.
The warning comes amid a chaotic lead-up to the tournament, with financial vetting, late franchise additions, and operational challenges putting the league in a “firefighting” mode.
Only five teams initially cleared; sixth added after CWAB appeal
The 2025 BPL, scheduled from December 19 to January 16, will now feature six teams. The BCB had originally cleared only five franchises after a stringent screening process based on financial guarantees and integrity checks.
“I want to be absolutely clear on the process. Originally, 11 teams participated. Two companies were disqualified early because they did not provide a bank draft, check, or any financial instrument. Out of the remaining nine, some provided post-dated checks or pay orders. After giving them time to pay the required 2 Crore Taka for eligibility and completing the integrity checks with local agencies, the BCB Integrity Unit, and the ICC, only five were initially cleared,” said Mithu.
However, the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) lobbied for a sixth team to increase opportunities for local players.
“However, the Cricketers Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) approached the president and us and requested for a sixth team. This was primarily to ensure that additional 15-16 local players would have the opportunity to play and earn,” he said.
“While we were moving ahead with five teams because of the financial requirements (10 Crore Taka minimum guarantees), we offered one final opportunity to those still interested. Desh Travels (Noakhali Express) responded by submitting the financial instruments and thus was included.”
Confirmed BPL 2025 teams and ownership
The six franchises for the upcoming edition are:
- Chattogram Royals (Triangle Services)
- Dhaka Capitals (Champion Sports Limited)
- Noakhali Express (Desh Travels)
- Rajshahi Warriors (Nabil Group)
- Rangpur Riders (Toggi Sports)
- Sylhet Titans (JM Sports and Entertainment)
While all six teams have submitted financial instruments, the BCB remains wary of two in particular, with concerns over whether they can meet the BDT 2 Crore participation fee and BDT 10 Crore bank guarantee requirements in full and on time.
New production partner announced, $500K savings expected
In a separate move, the BCB has appointed Trans Production Technologies (TPT) as the new production service provider for the BPL, replacing Real Impact. The decision was made based on TPT’s proven track record in delivering high-quality broadcasts for boards across Asia and leagues like the PSL and ILT20.
“They (TPT) have a large experience in production and we chose them as the production provider of BPL taking their past record into consideration,” said Iftekhar.
The board expects to save approximately USD 500,000 through the new arrangement.
Crisis-mode planning underscores operational challenges
Despite finalizing teams and a broadcast partner, BCB officials admit the planning window has been far from ideal. The late-stage franchise confirmations and financial uncertainties have left the board scrambling to pull everything together ahead of the December start.
“Look, the situation is not ideal. Definitely it’s a tough job. If we had gotten 7-8 months we could have organized everything properly. We are firefighting,” said Iftekhar.
Conclusion: High stakes for a high-pressure BPL season
As the BPL 2025 approaches, the BCB has laid down the law — pay up or risk takeover. With the board pushing for transparency, financial discipline, and a cleaner image, this season could mark a turning point in how the league operates. But with preparations rushed and concerns over some franchises lingering, all eyes will be on how smoothly the tournament unfolds once the action begins.
