DHAKA, Sept 3, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is gearing up to launch a new franchise-based domestic cricket tournament next November, bringing T20, ODI and four-day cricket under a single structure, board officials said.

The tournament's name has yet to be finalized, but BCB President Tamim Iqbal said an official announcement could come in the final week of September, potentially on September 25 or 26.

Under the proposed system, player drafts for all three formats will be conducted together, although the competitions themselves will be staged at different times. The board has yet to decide whether player contracts will cover one year or three years.

"I hope you will be happy with the way we are planning," Tamim said. "About 85 percent of my work is finished. Now, work is being done on the rules and regulations and other issues."

The BCB plans to field six franchise teams, with corporate organizations expected to receive ownership or sponsorship rights. The board itself does not intend to operate any team, according to Tournament Committee Chairman Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir.

"NCL T20, where eight teams previously participated, BCL's four-day matches and BCL ODIs are being formed under a package to create six teams," Alamgir said. "After that, the sponsorship or ownership of the teams will be transferred to corporate organizations. We, BCB, will not manage any team there."

The new structure is intended to increase the competitiveness and commercial appeal of domestic cricket while providing players with more opportunities to earn and play.

The BCB also wants national team players to participate, subject to their international commitments and workload. Tamim said he hoped all leading national players would be available for the inaugural season if scheduling and workload permit.

"National team cricketers will now benefit financially by playing domestic cricket," he said. "However, they are busy all year round. Their bodies also need rest. So, if there is no problem of work pressure or workload, I am sure they will play."

The initiative comes after financial and organizational difficulties in previous franchise competitions. The BCB has had to operate teams at its own expense in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), while similar problems have emerged in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The board says those experiences have been taken into account while designing the new competition, particularly in relation to franchise ownership, player payments and financial management.

Tamim also dismissed reports about the tournament's proposed name, saying no name or other details should be treated as official before the board makes its formal announcement.

The new tournament will also be accompanied by second-XI cricket, creating additional opportunities for players who miss out on national or other squad selections. The BCB expects around 150 to 200 cricketers to benefit from the additional competitive matches.

The three-format structure would represent a significant change in Bangladesh's domestic cricket calendar. Although the teams will be assembled through a common player draft, the T20, ODI and four-day competitions will be played separately at different times.

"We are targeting November for the start of the new tournament and the formal announcement is expected in the final week of September," Tamim said.