BCB Set to Launch Inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League featuring 3 Teams

In a monumental step for women’s cricket in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the launch of the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL).

BCB Set to Launch Inaugural Women's Bangladesh Premier League featuring 3 Teams
BCB Set to Launch Inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League featuring 3 Teams

This historic tournament, the first women’s T20 league in the nation, is slated to begin shortly after the conclusion of the ongoing Men’s BPL on February 7. The tournament will feature three teams battling it out over eight days, culminating in the final on February 15.

The WBPL promises a competitive format with each team playing the others twice, leading to a total of six league matches before the grand finale. All games will be held at the iconic Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.

BCB women’s wing chairman Nazmul Abedin, speaking to the media in Sylhet, shared the board’s vision behind the tournament. He emphasized that the primary goal of the WBPL is to uplift the standard of women’s cricket in Bangladesh rather than focusing solely on financial returns.

“The plan is to conduct it (WBPL) with three teams. To organize a quality tournament, you need a sufficient pool of talented players. Expanding beyond three teams would dilute the quality. Although we considered four teams, we decided this format was more feasible,” said Nazmul.

The decision to limit the tournament to three teams was deliberate and strategic, explained Nazmul. With a smaller pool of highly skilled players currently available in Bangladesh, the BCB opted for a format that would ensure competitive and engaging matches.

“Our focus is not just on hosting a tournament for financial gains but on improving the standard of women’s cricket. A three-team competition will be more competitive,” he added.

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The BCB is in active discussions with several men’s BPL franchises regarding ownership of the women’s teams. According to Nazmul, some franchise owners have already expressed keen interest in participating in the women’s league.

“Discussions with franchises have already taken place, and they’re keen to participate,” he revealed.

Each team will comprise 15 players, with only one overseas player allowed in the playing XI. This structure ensures local players get maximum exposure and opportunity.

Nazmul elaborated on this aspect, stating, “Each team will have 15 local players, with the foreign player quota remaining open.”

The BCB has vowed to meticulously address financial and logistical challenges, learning from the issues faced by the men’s BPL. Nazmul assured that these hurdles would not affect the women’s competition.

“We’re committed to addressing technical and financial issues meticulously. These problems won’t affect the women’s BPL,” he said.

Reflecting on the journey of organizing the men’s BPL, Nazmul acknowledged past difficulties but expressed confidence in overcoming them for the women’s league.

“There were doubts about whether we could successfully organize this BPL. Many franchises left during transitions, and we took a risk. While some areas didn’t go as planned, we aim to resolve those issues moving forward,” he concluded.

With the launch of the WBPL, the BCB aims to create a platform that not only showcases local talent but also inspires the next generation of women cricketers.

(Quotes sourced from cricbuzz)

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