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BCB women’s wing chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed on Saturday that the inaugural edition of the WBPL is set to make its debut this with a three-team competition in its inaugural edition.
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team. (X)
The inaugural edition of the Women’s Bangladesh Premier League is set to make its debut this year following the conclusion of the upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League, BCB women’s wing chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed on Saturday.
“The plan is to conduct the WBPL with three teams,” Abedin said.
Abedin explained that the event will begin with three teams in its maiden edition to ensure thrilling action.
“To organize a quality tournament, you need a sufficient pool of talented players. Expanding beyond three teams would dilute the quality. Although we considered four teams, we decided this format was more feasible,” he explained.
He opined that the venture would help in improving the standards of the women’s game in the nation.
“Our focus is not just on hosting a tournament for financial gains but on improving the standard of women’s cricket. A three-team competition will be more competitive,” he continued.
Abedin stated that the event will go on for just over a week and will be contested after the BPL.
“It will take place shortly after the men’s BPL ends, lasting eight to nine days. Discussions with franchises have already taken place, and they’re keen to participate.”
The sides would comprise as many as fifteen local Bangladesh players, with a slot for a foreign player.
“Each team will have 15 local players, with the foreign player quota remaining open,” Abedin said.
The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur will host the tournament and Abedin vowed to help the WBPL avoid the challenges faced by the BPL including non-payment of slaries.
“We’re committed to addressing technical and financial issues meticulously,” the secretary of BPL governing body added.
“These problems won’t affect the women’s BPL,” he reiterated.
“There were doubts about whether we could successfully organize this BPL. Many franchises left during transitions, and we took a risk,” Abedin revealed.
“While some areas didn’t go as planned, we aim to resolve those issues moving forward,” he signed off.
