The player auction is returning to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after 12 years. The BPL Governing Council announced this on Wednesday.
The auction system was in place for the first two seasons (2012 and 2013), followed by a draft method for nine subsequent seasons. Now, for the 12th edition, franchises will bid again.
The auction will be held on November 23 at a hotel in Dhaka. Five teams will participate: Dhaka Capitals, Chittagong Royals, Rajshahi Warriors, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Titans. These teams will form their new squads.
The BCB said in a statement, “Organized by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the BPL Governing Council, this year’s auction will mark the beginning of a new franchise ownership cycle, introducing a restructured and transparent bidding process designed to align the BPL with international T20 franchise standards.”
BPL Auction 2025: New system will build a formidable team
This time, the system has been revised to match international standards. Local players have been divided into six categories, and overseas players into five.
The base price for a top ‘A’ category local player is 5 million taka, with bids increasing in increments of 500,000 taka. The highest category for foreign players starts at USD 35,000, with each bid increasing by USD 5,000.
Each franchise can directly sign two Bangladeshi players (from A and B categories) and one or two foreign players, but council approval is required. The auction will be conducted in two phases – first local and then overseas.
Each team will be required to acquire at least 11 local players, with a maximum of 15. Direct signings will not be counted. The budget cap for local players is 45 million taka, excluding direct signings.
There is no limit on the number of foreign players registered, but only two to four can play in a match. At least two foreign players must be acquired through auction.
The maximum foreign player budget is USD 350,000, including direct signings. The bidding limit cannot be exceeded.
BPL 2025: Strictness in Payment and Rules
Auctioned players will be paid in three installments: 25% upon signing, 55% before the last league match, and the remaining 20% within 30 days of the tournament’s conclusion.
All in accordance with National Board of Revenue (NBR) tax rules.
The final squad list must be submitted to the council within 24 hours of the auction’s conclusion. All contracts will be in the BCB’s standard tripartite format.
These changes will help make the BPL a top league like the IPL. The 12th BPL will begin soon, and this new system will make the league more exciting.
