Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is exploring the possibility of launching a Women's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to take women’s cricket in the country to new heights.
BCB President Faruque Ahmed expressed his support for the idea, noting its potential to significantly advance the women's game.
In the past, attempts to establish a Women's BPL were hindered by a lack of interest from business houses and sponsors. However, Faruque remains optimistic about the concept. "The idea of Women's BPL is fantastic. It could do wonders for our women’s cricket," he said.
Faruque emphasized that the BCB has prioritized women’s cricket by improving facilities and infrastructure to help the national team excel on the global stage. "We need to assess our ability to host the Women's BPL, but we are committed to making it happen," he added.
While the Women's BPL is a long-term goal, the BCB is focused on ensuring the success of the upcoming men's BPL. Faruque stated that the board's top priority is to strengthen the men's competition, which is entering its final cycle under his leadership. He also stressed the importance of ensuring long-term stability for the major franchises in the tournament.
"The constant introduction of new franchises is not ideal. Our aim is to maintain seven teams in the BPL, despite challenges such as economic constraints and teams pulling out," he said.
One of the ongoing challenges for the BCB is the issue of unpaid dues by franchises since the inception of the BPL. Faruque revealed that legal measures are being taken to resolve the issue. "We've initiated legal arbitration to recover unpaid fees from past seasons. Four or five teams have significant pending amounts, but we hope to resolve this soon," he explained.
As the BCB continues its efforts to stabilize the men's BPL, the launch of a Women's BPL remains a promising prospect for the future of women’s cricket in Bangladesh.
