The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released an official statement on February 11, 2026 to announce the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) Season 1.
“The WBPL will mark Bangladesh’s first-ever franchise-based Twenty20 competition for women, representing a pioneering step forward in the professional development of women’s cricket in the country,” a section of the statement read.
BCB’s official announcement ushers in a landmark era in Bangladesh sport with women cricketers getting an opportunity to represent franchise teams for the first time.
When Will the WBPL Start?
Details from the statement suggest that the WBPL will hold from April 3 to April 15, 2026. Cricket fans in Bangladesh and overseas will get to see some of the WBPL’s finest players face off against each other for a chance to achieve sporting glory.
How Many Franchises Will Take Part in the Inaugural WBPL Season?
The BCB says three (3) franchises are planned to participate in the first WBPL season:
“The opening edition will feature three franchise teams, bringing together leading national cricketers alongside emerging talents. Local players will be selected through a player draft system to ensure competitive balance, squad strength and depth across all teams,” another part of the statement read.
Will Franchises Be Allowed to Sign Foreign Players During the First WBPL Season?
Current reports from official sources say that teams will get a chance to sign foreign players at the first-ever WBPL season. Allowing international participation through listing foreign cricketers on the WBPL roster could be a masterstroke to attract global recognition towards Bangladesh’s sporting competitions:
“Franchises will also be permitted to sign overseas professional players, providing an opportunity for international participation, global exposure and enhancement of the tournament’s competitive standard,” the statement also reads.
Bangladesh Women Captain Hails Creation of WBPL, Outlines Its Benefits
Nigar Sultana is the current captain of Bangladesh’s women cricket team. She hailed the BCB’s decision to flag off a women’s franchise league and says the decision will pay dividends to Bangla cricketers and sports in general:
“I have been hearing for many years that this (WBPL) was going to happen, so finally the announcement has come. Obviously, it is good news. We have always said that there should be a competitive franchise tournament for women. Other countries are already playing women’s franchise-based T20 tournaments, and it’s paying dividends for them,” Sultana opined after this development.
WBPL will help develop players’ skills – Sultana says
“If you want to compete in world cricket in the T20 format, you have to look at how other countries are progressing through franchise cricket. Most players take part in franchise leagues in different places, and that is how their skill levels develop in various ways. So for us, this would be a very good opportunity,” the skipper said.
Sultana says bringing overseas players to WBPL will improve game quality
“Plus, it would be a huge experience for both local players and those interested in the game. If we can bring in top-class players from world cricket who regularly play franchise leagues and have them share the dressing room and their experiences, the overall quality of cricket will improve. With the T20 World Cup ahead of us, this would be the best possible preparation,” the veteran cricketer added.
Who Will Oversee the WBPL Governing Council?
Current reports suggest that BCB Director and Chair of the governing body’s Women’s Wing will head the WBPL Governing Council. Rubaba Dowla is the current Women’s Wing head and is set to take up this role in addition to her current duties in Bangladesh’s cricket governing body.
Is the WBPL a Direct Competitor with Regional/International Women’s Franchise Leagues?
It’s still early days for the WBPL, but its model and timing could place it in direct competition with other franchise leagues. The WBPL aims to create an enabling environment for female cricketers set to thrive at franchise-level. It also adds another schedule of high-stakes events to Bangladesh’s ever-expanding sporting calendar.
Major factors that will determine the WBPL’s acceptance and reach after its first season include:
High-profile signings
Bangladesh’s cricket board could boost the image of their signature women’s franchise league if they can attract top talent from overseas countries. A blend of high-profile local talent and top stars from major cricket nations could catapult the league’s profile to global renown in its first season.
Broadcast network
Partnering with top broadcast networks will put the WBPL on more screens and attract wider attention to Bangladesh’s women’s league.
Will Female Indian Cricketers Be a Part of the WBPL Overseas Cricketers’ Roster?
Cricket boards of India and Bangladesh are currently in a standoff fuelled by political issues. Bangladesh’s T20I squad pulled out of the 2026 World Cup in India in protest and other retaliatory measures have been taken by India since that announcement.
The current tensions between both cricket boards makes any appearance of female Indian players at the WBPL quite unlikely.
