The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reiterated that there will be no country-specific restrictions on overseas players participation for the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL), a position that could allow Indian women cricketers to feature in the tournament despite a period of visible strain in cricketing relations between Bangladesh and India.
Speaking after a coordination meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Rubaba Dowla, chairperson of the BCB Women’s Wing and the WBPL Governing Council, stressed the board’s open stance. “There is no country-specific restriction. Whoever shows interest, and whichever teams want to bring such players, they can do so. It is open to all, so we will see,” she added.
The backdrop to this invitation is far from ordinary. In January 2026, Bangladesh opted to boycott the Men’s ICC T20 World Cup scheduled in India, citing security concerns following a chain of events that unsettled officials in Dhaka. The immediate catalyst was the last-minute removal of fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL 2026 squad of Kolkata Knight Riders, a move communicated on the directive of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The decision was widely reported as being shaped by broader political sensitivities rather than purely cricketing considerations.
Bangladesh’s stance hardened when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their World Cup fixtures out of India, pointing to unresolved security concerns for their players. When negotiations failed to produce a compromise, Bangladesh ultimately forfeited its participation, and the ICC replaced them in the tournament — a dramatic escalation that underscored how fragile cricketing ties between the two countries had become.
It is against this strained backdrop that the WBPL’s inclusive policy has drawn attention. While men’s cricket between the two nations has increasingly been shaped by political and administrative friction, women’s cricket continues to operate under a more flexible framework.
A key distinction lies in Indian cricket policy: while Indian men are barred from participating in overseas domestic T20 leagues outside the IPL, no such blanket restriction applies to women players. As a result, Indian women cricketers are regular participants in overseas leagues, including Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League and England’s The Hundred, subject to workload management and No Objection Certificates. That openness makes Indian participation in the WBPL administratively feasible, even if political sensitivities linger in the background.
For the BCB, the emphasis remains on development rather than diplomacy. The WBPL, scheduled from April 4 to April 14, will follow a draft system rather than an auction, with franchises expected to be allowed between two and four overseas players. Officials believe the structure will help raise standards while protecting opportunities for local talent. Whether Indian players ultimately take part will depend on scheduling, fitness and approvals from their board.
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