The inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) has been postponed from April to July, leaving players disappointed and raising questions about the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s commitment to women’s cricket.
The BCB announced on Wednesday that the three-team T20 tournament will now take place from July 10–21 across Bogura, Chattogram, and Dhaka, instead of the original April 4–14 schedule. The board cited global scheduling challenges and consultations with potential franchise owners and stakeholders, stating the delay allows more time for squad formation, international player recruitment, and operational planning. However, only Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe are free during the new timeframe, according to the Women’s FTP.
The last-minute rescheduling—just days before the players’ draft on March 14—has left players and officials frustrated. The postponement comes after the Women’s Dhaka Premier Division and First Division Leagues were cancelled due to club protests over the board’s legitimacy. Insiders also point to a lack of credible franchise interest and ongoing instability within the board following February 12 national elections.
National team players are likely to feel the impact most, as the tournament could have provided crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June–July. While the team will play a home series against Sri Lanka and a tri-nation series in Scotland before the World Cup, other players will have to wait until July to participate in competitive domestic cricket, affecting both their preparation and financial stability. The Tigresses are currently training at BKSP, playing intra-squad matches.
“Everyone is talking about how we had a good chance to play before the World Cup,” opener Dilara Akter told The Daily Star. “We don’t get to play T20 matches that often. It will definitely have some impact. Playing matches is important. We could have had a good opportunity here, but it didn’t happen.”
A national team coach also expressed concern that the team lost a valuable opportunity for preparation ahead of the global event. Former captain Rumana Ahmed criticised the BCB’s planning, noting the league would have provided essential competitive experience for the World Cup.
“Before the last ODI World Cup, the girls couldn’t play proper preparation matches. Even the First Division and Premier League have no fixed schedule. Women’s cricket remains in a state of uncertainty,” she said, questioning how the World Cup squad will be fairly selected without a consistent domestic calendar.
