“Icons are getting 1 million, what about the rest?”

For the first time, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced the launch of a women’s edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The inaugural tournament will feature three teams, with the players’ draft scheduled for 14 March. Ahead of the draft, selectors have begun categorising the domestic cricketers to determine salaries and team compositions.

Local players will be divided into five categories, with the highest-ranking group titled ‘Icon’. Each franchise will select one Icon player from the national team’s top stars. These Icon players will receive the maximum salary of 10 lakh taka. Among the frontrunners for Icon status are Nigar Sultana, confirmed as a captain, with co-captains Nahida Akter and Sobhna Mostari also under consideration.

The second-highest ‘A’ category will include six players, with each team drafting two from this category. Players in this tier are expected to earn 7 lakh taka each. The ‘B’ category encompasses twelve players, each slated for a 5 lakh taka salary. The ‘C’ category will host around twenty players, each receiving 3 lakh taka, while those not initially selected will enter the ‘D’ category, valued at 1.5 lakh taka. The final list of players per category will be confirmed within the coming days, according to women’s team selector Sajjad Ahmed.

Franchises will also have the option to sign foreign players directly prior to the draft, based on mutual interest. The number of foreign players in the draft remains undecided, but tentative salaries are proposed as follows: $8,000 for A-category, $6,000 for B-category, and $3,000 for C-category. Teams must field two foreign players per match and include at least four in their squad.

The tournament matches are scheduled from 3 to 15 April, potentially held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur and Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. A franchise ownership notice has already been released. Each franchise will pay a 30 lakh taka fee to participate. Reports indicate that Nabil Group, owners of the men’s BPL champions Rajshahi Warriors, have expressed interest in joining the women’s edition. The BCB has also begun marketing television rights and seeking sponsorships.

Proposed Player Salary Structure

This historic step marks a significant milestone for women’s cricket in Bangladesh, providing a professional platform and competitive exposure similar to the men’s BPL.