The defending champions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Fortune Barishal, have officially asked the league’s governing council for the BPL to be rescheduled. The team says they are struggling to prepare for the upcoming season due to the limited time given by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Recently, the BCB announced that the next edition of the BPL would begin in mid-December and feature only five teams. Along with this announcement, the BCB also invited business houses and companies to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for owning franchises in the upcoming five seasons. However, Fortune Barishal believes that the short notice makes it nearly impossible to organize a competitive team in time.
According to the official BCB statement released on October 12, the governing body opened the process for Expressions of Interest for franchise ownership for the BPL T20. The statement mentioned that the ownership rights would cover five consecutive editions — from the 12th to the 16th seasons. Ten potential franchise regions were identified: Barishal, Chattogram, Cumilla, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Noakhali, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
The BCB added that the BPL to be rescheduled process will involve a transparent and merit-based evaluation of at least five eligible EOI submissions for the 12th edition, starting in 2026.
Since the announcement, there have been speculations that Fortune Barishal might skip the next BPL season. However, team owner Mizanur Rahman denied such rumors, clarifying that the franchise only requested more time, not a withdrawal.
Fortune Barishal Seeks Extension for BPL to be Rescheduled
“I never said we wouldn’t participate,” Mizanur told Cricbuzz. “I just said that with such short notice, it’s difficult for a team like ours to prepare. That’s why we have asked for the BPL to be rescheduled. We need sufficient time to arrange funds, finalize contracts, and organize logistics. Even if we worked day and night, one or one-and-a-half months is not enough to manage everything.”
He emphasized that the franchise remains committed to Bangladeshi cricket and would happily participate if the BPL to be rescheduled date allows them proper preparation.
Mizanur Rahman further mentioned that other teams, including Rangpur Riders, might also face challenges due to the short timeline. He believes that experienced teams would struggle to prepare, while only new or less experienced teams might be ready in time.
He proposed that the BPL to be rescheduled for April or May instead of rushing into a December start. “Why can’t we play in April or May? That would give every team enough time to plan properly. Doing the BPL just for the sake of it doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I truly think the BPL to be rescheduled decision would benefit everyone.”
The Fortune Barishal owner stressed that the franchise has always supported domestic cricket and doesn’t want the league to proceed without them. He also suggested that extending the time could help maintain the competitive balance and quality that fans expect from the tournament.
Additionally, Mizanur cleared the air regarding their captain, Tamim Iqbal, after reports suggested that the former Bangladesh opener might boycott all cricket under the new BCB leadership. Mizanur dismissed these claims, saying, “There’s nothing like that. I believe Tamim’s statement was misunderstood. If the BPL to be rescheduled and Barishal plays, I’m confident Tamim will also play.”
The repeated appeal from Fortune Barishal highlights how important it is for the BPL to be rescheduled to ensure fairness, preparation time, and the participation of top teams and players. As Mizanur concluded, “We’re not out of the game; we just want the BPL to be rescheduled so that every team can compete at their best.”
In conclusion, Fortune Barishal’s request for the BPL to be rescheduled is not about stepping away but about maintaining the league’s standard and ensuring proper organization. Whether the BCB agrees to the BPL to be rescheduled remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the defending champions are determined to protect both the quality and spirit of Bangladesh’s premier T20 league.
SEE MORE:
