Reigning champions Fortune Barisal have decided not to play in the BPL

Sports Desk

Current champions Fortune Barisal are not participating in the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). They have decided not to participate in any cricketing activities under Aminul Islam Bulbul and have withdrawn from the BPL. Meanwhile, some lesser-known, some unknown and the two previous big institutions have submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) expressing their interest in playing the tournament.

BPL Governing Council Member Secretary Iftekhar Rahman Mithu confirmed this information to reporters at the BCB office. The BCB has identified 10 possible franchise regions – Barisal, Chittagong, Comilla, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Noakhali, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet. However, they want to select 5 teams from among them to make BPL.

Of the 10 franchises that have expressed interest, only Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Capitals, Khulna Tigers and Chittagong Kings are the teams that participated in the last edition. Rangpur Riders will remain under the Bashundhara Group as before. On the other hand, Walton and Remark Harlan have applied for the franchise rights of Dhaka Capitals. Desh Travels has applied for the ownership of Rajshahi Kings.

Meanwhile, the BPL also wants to play Chittagong Kings, who did not pay the cricketers in the last BPL. Along with them, an unknown organization called SQ and Cricket with Sami have also expressed interest. There are serious doubts about the financial basis of the rest except Bashundhara.