The 2023-24 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been postponed to allow franchises extra preparation time, particularly to acquire critical cricket equipment. The opening ceremony at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, initially set for 17 December, has been rescheduled to 24 December. The first match at Sylhet International Stadium, originally planned for 19 December, will now be held on 26 December.
Sakhawat Hossain of the BPL Governing Council said, “This extension gives teams adequate time to purchase bats, pads, and other essential gear, ensuring proper readiness for the tournament.”
The player draft, however, remains on track for 30 November. One of the most notable developments is the inclusion of former Indian international Piyush Chawla. Having last played international cricket in 2012, Chawla will become the first Indian to officially compete in the BPL after being selected in the draft. Previously, only one Indian had participated at a national level in the league, though Unmukt Chand had represented Chattogram Challengers in 2022-23 as a US citizen.
More than 500 foreign players registered for this year’s draft, with 250 shortlisted after verification. Sri Lanka tops the list with 51 players, Pakistan follows with 45, and the West Indies contributes 30. Alongside Chawla, ‘A’ category stars include Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Jonathan Charles, Shoaib Malik, Wayne Parnell, and Matheesha Pathirana.
Franchises may register multiple foreign players but can field a maximum of four per match. Draft rules require at least two foreign players and a minimum of 12 local players per team, including quotas across categories from A to E.
Several key local players, such as Liton Das, Tanzeed Hassan, and Mohammad Naim, have already been signed on direct contracts. With the additional week for preparation, teams have more time to strategise, finalise squads, and ensure competitive play for fans across the country.