The upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is likely to be shifted from its traditional December-January window to May, according to BPL chairman Mahbub Anam. The potential change is being considered due to the country’s upcoming general elections, which are expected to be held in early 2026 but require preparations to be completed by December.
Anam made the announcement following an emergency meeting of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) board of directors at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday, July 10. This statement came just a day after Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus instructed relevant agencies to finalize preparations by December for a peaceful election process.
The BPL chairman stated that the league organizers are currently awaiting the government’s decision before finalizing the schedule for the next edition. He confirmed that while a shift before December is one possibility, May is being considered as another viable window to host the tournament if the initial slot is impacted by the elections.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials discussing the potential postponement of the Bangladesh Premier League season due to upcoming elections.
In addition to the potential schedule change, Anam revealed plans to appoint a sports marketing consultancy firm to manage the tournament. This move aims to professionalize the league, which has faced controversies in the past. The BCB has already issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the consultancy position, emphasizing that priority will be given to firms with prior experience in organizing international T20 leagues and possessing skilled personnel.
Mahbub Anam, who recently took over as BPL chairman, replacing Faruque Ahmed, acknowledged past shortcomings and stressed the need for the BCB to take responsibility and work towards increasing the BPL’s brand value. He noted that while many companies have shown interest in associating with the league, their involvement will be assessed only after a new financial model for the tournament’s expected new five-year cycle is finalized. The BCB intends to proactively engage with various corporate entities.
Expansion of playing venues is also on the agenda. The BPL currently uses three stadiums in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. The board is looking to add more venues, provided they meet international standards and offer suitable accommodation for players. Bogura and Khulna stadiums are currently undergoing auditing, while work is ongoing at the Barisal Stadium, which may also be included. The National Sports Council is also reportedly working on the stadium in Rajshahi. Anam indicated that the best-suited venues among these four, meeting the necessary criteria, could be added for the upcoming BPL season.
