Bangladesh will not stage its Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) this season, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal said on Thursday, citing problems that have affected recent editions of the country’s premier domestic T20 competition.
The BPL, launched in 2012, has faced allegations of match-fixing and corruption, along with organisational and financial difficulties. The BCB reportedly recorded losses of nearly 400 million Bangladeshi taka ($3.27 million) over the last two seasons, according to local newspaper Prothom Alo.
Why has the BPL been cancelled this season?
The decision follows a series of controversies surrounding recent editions of the tournament. In May, the BCB suspended a player and several team officials over betting violations following an anti-corruption investigation.
The previous season was also disrupted when domestic players boycotted matches after comments by BCB official Nazmul Islam triggered a dispute over players’ financial value. Several matches were subsequently rescheduled.
When will the Bangladesh Premier League return?
Tamim said the BCB intends to bring the tournament back but does not want to rush its revival.
“I don’t want to hurry. I want to do it right,” Tamim told reporters, adding that the board was prepared to take six or 12 months to address the problems.
The BPL remains Bangladesh’s most popular domestic cricket competition but has struggled to match the commercial success of major franchise-based T20 leagues in other countries.