Bangladesh to launch Women's BPL T20 in April

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday (February 11) announced that it will launch the inaugural edition of the Women's Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) T20 from April 3 to 15.

The WBPL will mark Bangladesh's first-ever franchise-based T20 competition for women - a tournament long considered a dream for a large section of the country's cricketers, who see it as a major step forward in the professional development of women's cricket.

Following the announcement, Bangladesh women's team skipper Nigar Sultana told Cricbuzz that she is looking forward to the tournament, believing it will also help the team prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in England in June 2025.

"I have been hearing for many years that this (WBPL) was going to happen, so finally the announcement has come. Obviously, it is good news. We have always said that there should be a competitive franchise tournament for women. Other countries are already playing women's franchise-based T20 tournaments, and it's paying dividends for them," said Nigar.

"If you want to compete in world cricket in the T20 format, you have to look at how other countries are progressing through franchise cricket. Most players take part in franchise leagues in different places, and that is how their skill levels develop in various ways. So for us, this would be a very good opportunity," she added.

"Plus, it would be a huge experience for both local players and those interested in the game. If we can bring in top-class players from world cricket who regularly play franchise leagues and have them share the dressing room and their experiences, the overall quality of cricket will improve. With the T20 World Cup ahead of us, this would be the best possible preparation," she said.

The BCB stated that the inaugural edition will feature three franchise teams, bringing together leading national cricketers alongside emerging talents. Local players will be selected through a player draft system to ensure competitive balance, squad strength, and depth across all teams.

Franchises will also be allowed to sign overseas professional players, providing opportunities for international participation, global exposure, and an enhancement of the tournament's competitive standard.

Rubaba Dowla, BCB Director and Chairperson of the BCB Women's Wing, has been appointed Chairperson of the WBPL Governing Council.