Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal has said the board is working toward a tripartite arrangement that would involve the BCB, Dhaka-based clubs, and players competing in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), the country’s long-running List-A competition. Speaking after taking over as interim BCB head, Tamim vowed to get the tournament underway quickly, pointing to the fact that most Dhaka clubs had boycotted the league for refusing to play under the Aminul Islam Bulbul-led board.
Why the DPL was delayed — and how Tamim is moving to restart it
Tamim’s comments come after the previous BCB setup was dissolved by the National Sports Council. The decision followed an assessment report from an investigation committee that found misuse of power. With that change in leadership, Tamim said he has been able to keep his promise to restart the DPL as soon as possible.
The BCB and the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis earlier confirmed the schedule for the 2025-26 season. According to the announced calendar, the DPL will begin on May 4 and run through June 11.
New structure for DPL 2025-26
For the upcoming edition, the DPL will be played in a single-league format. The tournament’s Super League and Relegation League stages will not be part of the competition this season.
Payments remain a concern — Tamim calls for a tripartite contract
While the tournament’s format has changed, Tamim acknowledged that one recurring issue has been players’ remuneration since the league’s inception. He argued that a tripartite agreement could make it easier for players to receive their dues in the coming days, while also ensuring clearer responsibility for both clubs and the board.
- Tamim stressed that the BCB typically does not assume liability for payment problems in the DPL because the arrangement is normally between the club and the players.
- He said that, in recent years, the payments players have received have dropped significantly, based on what he has observed.
- He said the BCB will ask clubs to honor their contracts with players, even if payments are lower than in previous seasons.
Tamim also pointed to the reasons clubs have given for falling short on arrangements. Some clubs argued that they had not had enough time to assemble funds for squad preparation, while others believed spending heavily this season was unnecessary because there would be no Relegation League stage.
Speaking directly about his position, Tamim said: “Normally, the Cricket Board doesn’t take any liability regarding payment issues in the Dhaka Premier League because the deal is between the club and the players. But in the last few years, the payments players have been receiving have reduced quite a lot, as far as I know. So I think we will request that the clubs honor their contracts with the players.”
He added that the longer-term goal is to make the process more systematic. “In the future, we are discussing how we can make this more systematic so that the commitments made by both sides are fulfilled,” Tamim said. He noted that he had very little time when he began his role, adding that starting the work from day one was the priority. At the same time, he acknowledged that the same payment issues have surfaced every year and said the matter should be addressed when an elected body comes in.
“That’s why I said that if we can bring it under a proper tripartite contract, where the BCB also contributes to the clubs, it would be better,” Tamim said. He also admitted the challenge of changing long-standing practices quickly, saying: “But as we all know, this has been going on for around 37 years. It’s impossible to change it suddenly in a month or 20 days, but this is something I genuinely think should happen.”
Looking ahead, Tamim said the plan would be pushed further if an elected body is in place and he remains in the role. “In the coming months, if an elected body is in place and I am there along with my colleagues, this is something we really want to work on,” he added.
Foreign players could return — Tamim opens the door to change
Tamim also indicated he is open to allowing foreign cricketers in the DPL, provided it improves competitiveness and that the participating clubs agree. He outlined how the rules had already evolved over time, noting that foreign players were once allowed, then reduced gradually, and eventually barred altogether because their involvement was seen as restricting opportunities for local talent.
- Foreign players were earlier permitted in the DPL.
- The allowance was later reduced to one foreign player per team.
- Foreign cricketers were eventually barred entirely, with clubs citing limited opportunities for domestic players.
“There are two sides to the story,” Tamim said on the inclusion of overseas players. He explained that the number of foreign players had gone from three to two to one, and that having none creates more chances for local players. “But if one or two are allowed, the competitiveness of the league increases,” he added.
With 12 teams in the Premier League, Tamim said discussions would be held with the clubs about whether foreign players should be brought back. He argued that introducing overseas talent can add international quality to the tournament and referenced that several major players have previously featured in the DPL.
“So this is something we need to discuss with the participating clubs. There are 12 teams in the Premier League, and we can talk with them in the future about whether to bring back foreign players or not,” he said. “Bringing in foreign cricketers adds international quality to the tournament. Many big players have featured here before.”
Tamim further added that decisions may be required to make the competition more exciting and to help attract sponsors. “It’s not that it can’t be done or shouldn’t happen. To make the tournament more exciting and attract more sponsors, we may need to take such decisions in the future,” he said.
“I am open to it (bringing foreign cricketers into the DPL),” Tamim concluded.
