Dhaka, Bangladesh — The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) may undergo a major structural overhaul as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that five companies—four of them foreign—have officially submitted Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to organise the next edition of the tournament, scheduled for December 2025 to January 2026.
In a media release, the BCB revealed that the submission phase is now complete, attracting a mix of international and local firms aiming to manage Bangladesh’s top T20 franchise competition.
Global sports entities in contention to run the BPL
Leading the international pack is IMG (USA), a global sports marketing firm with experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Also in the mix is IPG Group (UAE), which has partnered with Mind Tree Limited, the owners of BPL franchise Khulna Tigers. The group has confirmed it will not participate as a franchise if selected as the tournament organiser.
Other bidders include Apex Sports Consulting (UAE), Real Impact, and Absolute Legends Sports (India), which has previously handled TV production for BCB events. The lone local entrant is Transport Group, a Bangladeshi firm.
BCB shifts focus to professionalism and global standards
The BCB opened the EOI process on July 10, 2025, aiming to engage a professional partner to handle all operational aspects of the BPL. Now that the deadline has passed, the BPL Governing Council will evaluate submissions and shortlist firms based on set criteria. Shortlisted bidders will make detailed presentations and submit financial proposals during closed-door sessions on July 30 and 31.
BCB officials aim to finalise the organiser and confirm franchise participation by the end of August 2025, with the player draft expected to take place in early October.
New approach for a maturing league
This year’s EOI process signals a new strategic direction for the BPL. The BCB has made it clear that it seeks a more professionally structured tournament, with global best practices and better stakeholder engagement. Officials also confirmed they have consulted fans and partners to inform changes aimed at improving the league’s commercial viability and execution.
Elevating the BPL to global franchise standards
As Bangladesh’s premier domestic cricket league, the BPL holds significant value in terms of visibility and revenue. By inviting interest from internationally experienced organisers, the BCB is attempting to align the BPL with major global leagues like the IPL, SA20, and ILT20.
Once selected, the winning firm will enter into a formal service agreement with the BCB, marking a major step toward professionalising the BPL and attracting more domestic and international sponsors, broadcasters, and talent.
