Bangladesh Premier League

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) (Bengali:বাংলাদেশ প্রিমিয়ার লীগ) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Bangladesh. The first edition of the tournament started on 10 February 2012 with six franchises consisting of players from around the world.

Dhaka Gladiators were the inaugural champions of the BPL. They also were the champions of the second season.

The BPL was broadcast internationally through ESPN Star Sports who made agreements to broadcast matches on a daily basis. The official channel for the BPL is Channel 9.

First season
The inaugural season of the tournament started on 9 February on 2012 with an opening ceremony with the first match starting on 10 February 2012 and finish with the final on 29 February 2012. A total of 33 matches were scheduled, all of which were be played at two stadiums, Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. Each team played each team twice, both at home and away in a round-robin system. The top four teams at the end of the round robin stage progressed to the knockout stage. Sylhet and Chittagong failed to progress to the semi finals. Rajshahi, Khulna, Dhaka and Barishal reached semi finals. Afterwards, Dhaka took the champions trophy beating Barisal in final.

Second season
The second season of the tournament began on 18 January 2013, with the ceremony opening ceremony taking place in 17 January, while the player auction player's auction on 20 December 2012. Dhaka Gladiators again emerged as champions beating Chittagong Kings in the final by 43 runs. Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka hosted most matches while the MA Aziz Stadium replaced the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong and Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna hosted matches of the tournament for the time in 2013. Unlike the first season, there were no icon players and the players taking part in the player's auction were divided into four categories, as opposed to the two categories in the first season. Each category had a maximum bid price as follows:

7 League teams
The 7 divisional cities were chosen as the franchise teams to participate in the tournament. In the first season of BPL, 6 divisions were chosen among 7, with the exception of Rangpur. However, Rangpur Division was added in the second edition. The franchise is Rangpur Riders.

Franchises
The minimum bidding price for each franchise is $1 million. The franchise owners are now in possession of the franchise for six years and can only sell it after three years.

Rules
There are five ways that a franchise can acquire a player. In the annual auction, buying domestic players, signing uncapped players, through trading and buying replacements. In the trading window players can only be traded with his consent. The franchise will have to pay the difference between the old contract price and the new contract price. If the new contract is worth more than the older one then the difference will be shared between the player and the franchise selling the player.


 * Each team will consist of 18 players


 * Maximum of 8 international players, up to 5 of which will be allowed to play in a match.


 * Each team must contain at least one Associate player, reflecting on Bangladesh's own history as an Associate. A total of six Associate players have been signed, one each by the six franchises.


 * On 20 February the organisers allowed for teams to purchase 2 extra foreign players and 2 local players.

Broadcasting rights
Channel 9 Bangladesh is the official broadcaster.

Team

 * Most runs in an innings: 217/4, Dhaka Gladiators v Rangpur Riders, 5 February 2013.
 * Lowest total in an innings: 67, Khulna Royal Bengals v Chittagong Kings, 7 February 2013.
 * Largest victories:
 * By runs: 119, Chittagong Kings v Sylhet Royals, 8 February 2013.
 * By wickets: 10, Barisal Burners v Sylhet Royals, 10 February 2012.
 * By balls remaining: 44, Chittagong Kings v Barisal Burners, 16 February 2012.


 * Smallest victories:
 * By runs: 2, Khulna Royal Bengals v Sylhet Royals, 18 February 2012.
 * By wickets: 1, Sylhet Royals v Barisal Burners, 13 February 2013.
 * By balls remaining: 0, Rangpur Riders v Chittagong Kings, 9 February 2013.

Individual

 * Most runs in an innings: 116, Chris Gayle for Barisal Burners v Dhaka Gladiators, 14 February 2012.
 * Most runs in a tournament: 486, Ahmed Shehzad (Barisal Burners), 2012
 * Best bowling figure in an innings: 5/6 (3.2 Overs), Mohammad Sami for Duronto Rajshahi v Dhaka Gladiators, 27 February 2012
 * Most wickets in a tournament: 31, Enamul Haque Jr. for (Chittagong Kings)


 * Controversies involving the Indian Premier League
 * 2012 Indian Premier League spot-fixing case