DHAKA, Nov 29, 2025 (BSS) - The players' auction for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 will be held tomorrow at a local hotel in the city, marking the return of the auction system after a 12-year gap. The format was last used in the 2012 and 2013 editions, after which the league adopted a draft system for nine consecutive seasons.

This year's tournament will feature six teams, despite earlier plans for a five-team lineup. The newly introduced Noakhali Express joins established franchises Rangpur Riders and Dhaka Capital, along with Sylhet Titans, Chattogram Royals and Rajshahi Warriors. The BPL Governing Council has already provided all franchises with the list of local and overseas players available for the auction.

Under the revised auction structure, players have been placed into categories with defined base prices and bidding increments. Local players are divided into six categories, starting from Category A with a base price of Tk 50 lakh, followed by Categories B to F with decreasing base prices and smaller increments. Overseas players fall under five categories, with Category A beginning at USD 35,000 and subsequent categories offering lower base prices and corresponding increments.

Franchises are allowed to directly sign up to two Bangladeshi players from Categories A and B, as well as one or two foreign players, subject to approval from the BPL Governing Council. The auction will be carried out in two phases, beginning with local players and then proceeding to overseas players.

Each team must select between 12 and 14 local players from the auction and may register a total of up to 16, including direct signings, within a salary cap of Tk 4.5 crore. For overseas signings, teams must pick at least two players from the auction while staying within a budget limit of USD 350,000, which includes direct purchases.

Player payments will be made in three installments: 25 percent upon signing, 55 percent before the team's final league-stage match, and the remaining 20 percent within 30 days after the tournament concludes. All transactions must comply with National Board of Revenue (NBR) regulations. 

Franchises are required to submit their final squad lists within 24 hours after the auction, and all contracts will follow the Bangladesh Cricket Board's standard tripartite format to ensure transparency and uniformity.