The Bangladesh Premier League is a professional Twenty20 cricket league that is held in Bangladesh annually by franchise teams representing Bangladeshi cities.The league was founded by Bangladesh Cricket Board in 2012, and is scheduled over November and December of each year.
The Bangladesh Premier League is the second most watched Twenty20 league worldwide, and the fourth most watched cricket tournament behind ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and Indian Premier League. The brand value of Bangladesh Premier League was estimated to be around $1.1 billion in 2016. Channel Nine holds the BPL broadcasting rights in Asia and Europe while ESPN was awarded with broadcasting rights in North America. The BPL is headed by the board of directors of Bangladesh Cricket Board with Dr. I.H Mallik currently serving as the chief secretary.
Since the inauguration of the tournament, total eight teams have taken part in the competition, with Dhaka Gladiators (renamed to Dhaka Dynamites) have won two titles, while Rangpur Riders holds the highest winning ratio. As of 2015, Mushfiqur Rahim leads the tournament with most runs (819) while Shakib Al Hasan with most wickets (43).
Bangladesh Premier League 2016 Live Streaming
The 2015 Bangladesh Premier League is the third season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the Twenty20 cricket competition in Bangladesh. The third edition of the tournament was began on 22 November 2015 and featured six teams and a tournament format with a double round robin group stage, two semi-finals and a final. The third edition of the tournament featured one new franchise, Comilla Victorians, however all the teams will be backed by new owner, officials, and names will also be changed. Rajshahi and Khulna will not participate in the tournament. The opening ceremony had been launched at 20 November 2015 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. BRB Cables Limited was awarded with the title sponsorship and stadium rights for the third season.
Player Auction
The Auction for the third edition was held on 22 October 2015 at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka. Six Franchises participated in the Player-by-choice method draft. Each teams were limited to twenty five players including twelve overseas players. The players were classified into six categories. Six players from Bangladesh national cricket team were categorized as icon players, which includes Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Nasir Hossain. Each Icon players were sold to six franchises for more than ৳5.5 million ($70,000). The Second Category players, along with the Icon Players were not included in the auction. The salary for second category players exceeds the restricted price set by BPL Governing committee, therefore, the players were privately contracted by the franchises. Chris Gayle Signed contract with Barisal Bulls for 170 crores ($180,000), becoming the most expensive contract of the third season . Shahid Afridi was signed with Sylhet Super Stars and Kumar Sangakkara with Dhaka Dynamites. The players held in auction were categorized into four Groups, Category One players were sold for US$78,000, Category Two for US$50,000 and Category C and D players were sold for US$40,000 and US$30,000 respectively.
Venues
A total of 34 matches will be played in two stadiums including the final in this tournament. All of the matches will be played in the capital Dhaka and the southern city of Chittagong. 26 matches will be played in Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium including the semifinals and final whereas the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium will host 8 group stage matches.
