The 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to take place in January next year (2025). Just like the last year, a total of 7 teams will participate in BPL 2025. Before the tournament, there will be a BPL draft in which the franchises can choose new players during an annual draft. The BPL draft will most likely happen in September. Today, we will see what the BCB’s CEO has said earlier regarding the BPL draft and a few more details on BPL 2025. So let’s dive into it quickly.
Players’ draft to happen in September before the BPL 2025
Before the start of the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, there will be a BPL draft of players; as it happened in the past. Earlier, in July 2024, BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) CEO (Chief Executive Officer, Nizam Uddin Chowdhury talked about this matter. He said the BCB will finalize the timeframe of the BPL in their board meeting. He also said the board has communicated with the participating teams and except for two teams, every team has confirmed their participation.
Nizam Uddin Chowdhury didn’t name those two teams, but we are expecting the participation of those two teams to be confirmed. He also said the BPL player’s draft is likely to be held in September. It is learned that the first week of September might be the time when the BPL draft will take place.
“We communicated with the teams which played the BPL in its last edition. Most of the teams confirmed their participation in the next edition. But still, there are one or two teams that are unsure. – Nizam Uddin Chowdhury.
‘We are waiting for them. Once they let us know about their decision, we’ll take the next step. We have already decided Players’ Draft which is likely to be held in September.”
BCB might face scheduling challenge for BPL 2025
The BCB might also face scheduling challenges for BPL 2025. The last edition of the BPL happened as per the schedule, starting from the latter part of January. The final of the BPL 2024 happened on March 01. But this time, BPL 2025 is expected to start in early January due to the FTP (Future Tour Programme) and an ICC (International Cricket Council) tournament commitment.
There will be an ICC Champions Trophy set to take place in 2025. It is likely to start in mid-February. The BCB might start the BPL 2025 earlier this time to make up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Although there is no official confirmation of the dates yet, the tournament might happen from January 01 to February 11, 2025.
The BCB CEO told the media earlier that the BCB will adjust the scheduling of the tournament according to the commitments. He said- “The players’ draft may take place in the first week of September. The commitments we have in FTP or ICC major events, we will adjust accordingly. If fine-tuning is needed in any area, we will do it.”
More details on BPL 2025
No. of teams and no. of matches in BPL 2025
A total of 7 teams will participate in the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. Those are:
Comilla Victorians
Fortune Barishal
Khulna Tigers
Rangpur Riders
Sylhet Strikers
Chattogram Challengers
Durdanto Dhaka
A total of 46 games will happen in the tournament, including the two Qualifiers, an Eliminator, and the final.
Format of the tournament
It will be a double round-robin and playoffs format. All 7 teams will play against each other twice in the round-robin stage. The teams who finish in the first two of the points table will play the Qualifier 1 and the winner will play the final.
An Eliminator will be played by No. 3 and 4 teams in the points table and the loser of this match will be out of the tournament. The winner of an Eliminator will play Qualifier 2 against the loser of Qualifier 1. Then, the Qualifier 2 winner will play the final against the winner of Qualifier 1.
Conclusion
So this is all about the BPL 2025 and the players’ draft before the tournament. Last season, Fortune Barishal, led by Tamim Iqbal won the title by beating Comilla Victorians in the final by 6 wickets. Fortune chased down a target of 155 by 6 wickets and one over to spare in the final. Tamim Iqbal has also become the player of the tournament in BPL 2024.
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FAQs:-
(1) Who won the inaugural season of Bangladesh Premier League?
Dhaka Gladiators won the inaugural season in 2012 by beating Barisal Burners in the final. Shakib al Hasan becomes the Player of the Tournament in that season.
(2) Which team has won the most BPL titles?
Comilla Victorians has won the most BPL titles till now. They have won 4 titles; in 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023. A franchise from Dhaka is the next most successful team with 3 titles; in 2012, 2013, and 2016.
(3) Which player won the Player of the Tournament award in BPL 2016?
Mahmudullah, while playing for Khulna Titans has won the Player of the Tournament award in BPL 2016 season. He scored 396 runs in 14 games with an average of 33 in that season.
(4) Who took the most wickets in BPL 2019?
Shakib al Hasan took the most wickets (23) in BPL 2019 season.
