The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the nation's sole franchise-based T20 tournament, no longer competes among the top leagues. Despite launching earlier than numerous other T20 competitions, the BPL struggles to position itself alongside its counterparts and shows little prospect of future improvement. So, what's contributing to this stagnation?
The prime setback stems from professionalism, or the lack thereof, exhibited by both the governing council and franchisees. Dismally, the council did not convene with the BPL franchises over the last year while controversies plagued almost every BPL edition. Additionally, financial disputes frequently disrupted the tournament's progress, prompting concerns over trust between franchises and the council.
The BPL's financial structure raises another issue. Despite various foreign event management companies offering to assist, the council opted to retain control over the tournament. The unwillingness to accept revenue-sharing models or involve surrogate betting companies due to legal conflicts negatively impacts the BPL's financial solidity.
The termination of the BPL's first cycle in 2019 also stunted the tournament's growth, leading to regret amongst experts who believe it precipitated additional challenges for the BPL. Moreover, the decision cultivated tension within the BCB, since Dhaka Dynamites' star player Shakib chose to leave for Rangpur.
A further deterrent to the BPL's advancement is franchises' inability to cultivate fan loyalty, primarily due to the absence of home and away games. Franchises also struggle to maintain consistent, recognizable squads akin to established relationships in other T20 tournaments.
