The upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to showcase some significant changes, particularly with the absence of the most successful team, the Comilla Victorians. This season marks a shift in the tournament's landscape, as there will be no representation from Comilla in the upcoming 11th edition of the BPL. Instead, two completely new franchises will make their debut, promising fresh competition.

During the board meeting held on Thursday, September 26, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finalized the start date for the BPL, which is scheduled to commence on December 27. Coinciding with this announcement is the long-awaited players' draft, which is expected to take place in Dhaka on October 14.

BCB president Faruque Ahmed revealed that three teams have undergone changes this season. The identities of the new franchises will be disclosed within one to two days, with the selection process already 95% complete. He mentioned, “Dhaka Nawab will be one of the new names; I'm not sure if the name has been made public yet. This is a return for an old franchise from Chattogram, which participated in the first or second season. A team from Rajshahi has also expressed interest, and we have chosen these three.”

The Dhaka team will feature notable personalities, including Bollywood superstar Shakib Khan. The former Chittagong Kings franchise is making a comeback, while the Chattogram Challengers will not participate this season. Other teams like Sylhet Strikers, Fortune Barishal, and Rangpur Riders will also remain in the tournament, with one team from Khulna expected to participate.

In an effort to address the long-standing demands of franchise owners, BCB will allocate a portion of their revenue to the franchises this season. However, President Faruque Ahmed noted that this is the first BPL under his leadership, which may result in a slightly reduced profit-sharing arrangement this year. “I have promised them that we will strive to make this franchise tournament as attractive as possible. Over the last 2-3 years, it’s unclear what the situation was; the directors can elaborate. We will enhance the quality of production and ensure an engaging tournament experience. They have advised us about revenue sharing, and while we are not clear yet, we will strive to increase it in future editions,” he explained.

With these exciting developments, the BPL 2024 season is shaping up to be a landmark event, bringing renewed enthusiasm to cricket in Bangladesh.