Former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla has made history as the first Indian player to enter the Bangladesh Premier League auction. This marks a significant moment since the Board of Control for Cricket in India has traditionally prohibited Indian cricketers from participating in overseas franchise leagues. Chawla, who has already retired from Indian cricket, is currently playing for Ajman Titans in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, where he has taken seven wickets in six matches. The BPL auction is scheduled for November 30, returning after a 12-year gap. The tournament previously held auctions only in its first two editions in 2012 and 2013, switching to a draft system for the following nine seasons. Five teams will compete this season, including new franchise Noakhali Express.
Auction Details and Tournament Structure
The BPL auction will feature both local and overseas players divided into separate categories with structured base amounts. For overseas players like Chawla, the highest category will begin at USD 35,000 with bidding increments of USD 5,000. The tournament will feature five teams this season, reduced from seven in the previous edition. Noakhali Express joins as the newest franchise alongside Rajshahi Warriors, Rangpur Riders, Sylhet Titans, Dhaka Capitals, and Chattogram Royals. This auction format returns after being replaced by a players' draft system that was used for nine consecutive editions following the initial two tournaments.
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