BPL 2025: Defending Champions Fortune Barishal Withdraw, Inquiry Report Submitted

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that Fortune Barishal, the defending champions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and owned by Fortune Shoes, will not take part in the next cycle of the tournament. The new BPL cycle will cover the next five editions.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Fortune Barishal had asked the board to reschedule the tournament, saying they didn’t have enough time to build a competitive team. The player draft is set for November 17, while the upcoming BPL season is expected to start around December 19, running through the December–January window.

On the final day of submission, 11 organisations sent their Expression of Interest (EOI) to the BCB to own a team. These are:

• Champions Sports Limited (Dhaka Capitals)

• Triangle Services Limited (Chattogram team)

• SQ Sports Enterprise Limited (Chattogram Kings)

• First SS Enterprise Private Limited (Kumilla Fighters)

• Togi Sports Limited (Rangpur Riders)

• Bangla Mark Limited (Noakhali team)

• Mind Free Limited & Ruposhi Concrete Product Limited (Khulna team)

• Akashbari Holidays and Resorts (Barishal team)

• Desh Travels (Rajshahi team)

• Nabil Group of Industries (Rajshahi team)

• JM Sports and Enterprise (Sylhet team)

BCB President Aminul Islam told reporters on Tuesday that the board will now check the financial strength of these applicants and conduct individual interviews on October 30.

He also confirmed, “The name you mentioned (Fortune Barishal) is not among the EOIs we received today.”

Meanwhile, the three-member independent inquiry committee that was looking into match-fixing allegations during the 2024–25 BPL season has submitted its final 900-page report to the BCB. The committee has been working for the past nine months.

Back in February, the BCB had formed this independent committee to assist the board and the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) after several corruption-related reports surfaced in the media.

BCB Receives 900-Page BPL Corruption Report; Fortune Barishal Not Among New Applicants

The committee was led by Justice Mirza Hussain Haider, with former cricketer Shakil Kasem and international lawyer Dr. Khaled H. Chowdhury as members. BCB President Aminul said the board had already received a preliminary report in September and had started working on its findings.

“Today we got the full report, 900 pages in total. It not only covers the BPL inquiry but also gives us guidelines for the future. We are already working based on the initial findings,” Aminul said.

Sources told Cricbuzz that a few individuals have been named as suspects in the report. However, the BCB said it will not make their names public.

BCB Vice President Shakhawat Hossain mentioned that players who are charge-sheeted will not be allowed to play in upcoming domestic tournaments.
“We don’t have the right to reveal their names, but people will understand when certain players are not selected. We are not a court,” he said.

He also added, “Everyone has human rights, but if someone is formally charged with wrongdoing, that person will be kept away from cricket. When asked if innocent players might unfairly suffer, Aminul replied that “eventually, the names will come out.”

To strengthen its anti-corruption efforts, the BCB has also formed a new Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU), which will be headed by Alex Marshall as its independent chairman.

ALSO READ: Is There a Reserve Day for the India vs Australia Women’s World Cup 2025 Semifinal? What Happens If It’s Washed Out?