BPL Trophy and Tamim Iqbal [Source: X and AFP]The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to make way for a completely new domestic cricket structure, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) introducing the D3 Trophy in its place. The new competition is designed to bring Bangladesh's domestic formats under one umbrella, while replacing the Bangladesh Premier League 2026-27 and giving the country's emerging cricketers a more consistent pathway towards the highest level. As preparations gather pace for the inaugural edition, the BCB has also unveiled six icon players who will headline the six teams participating in the tournament.New D3 Trophy replaces BPL 2026-27The BCB has effectively replaced the BPL with the newly introduced D3 Trophy for the 2026-27 domestic season, amid continuing uncertainty surrounding the country's franchise-based T20 league. Rather than staging another edition of the BPL, the board has opted to establish a competition that combines Bangladesh's major domestic formats within a single structure.The decision comes against the backdrop of concerns surrounding the BPL's financial sustainability, organisational structure and integrity. BCB president Tamim Iqbal had previously indicated that the BPL could be suspended for the foreseeable future following corruption and fixing-related controversies. He also pointed towards significant financial losses and the need for a broader overhaul before the tournament could return.Also Read- Bangladesh Coach Shares Bold WTC AmbitionsD3 Trophy set to begin new era for Bangladesh cricketThe D3 Trophy therefore represents more than a replacement for one T20 tournament. The BCB's stated objective is to strengthen the domestic ecosystem and create a better development route for the next generation of Bangladeshi cricketers. The new approach also gives corporate owners a longer-term role in domestic cricket. Six companies have already secured ownership of the teams through three-year agreements, creating the foundation for a franchise-style domestic structure without restricting the tournament to T20 cricket.Icon players' names revealed for D3 TrophyThe BCB has now confirmed the six icon players who will represent the teams in the inaugural D3 Trophy. The list combines established Bangladesh internationals with players who have remained important figures across the country's domestic and international cricket landscape.Former Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has been selected as the icon player for Seven Rings Cement, while experienced all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz will represent Walton.Bangladesh's emerging middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy has been assigned to Fortune, with Mosaddek Hossain becoming ACME's icon player. Nurul Hasan Sohan will represent Booster, while Naim Sheikh has been named the icon player for Citizen.The six names will provide each franchise with a recognisable face as the BCB attempts to give its new competition an identity from its very first edition.Structure, format and D3 Trophy tournament date revealedThe inaugural D3 Trophy is scheduled to begin in December 2026, with the T20 competition serving as the first event under the new structure. Unlike the BPL, however, the tournament has been conceived as a multi-format domestic competition.The D3 Trophy will eventually cover T20, List A and First-Class cricket, allowing the six teams to compete across different formats within the same overall framework. For its first edition, the Bangladesh board will focus on the T20 format. The six teams have already been secured by corporate houses under initial three-year agreements, giving the competition a longer-term foundation.The BCB has described the D3 Trophy as an effort to bring greater colour and excitement to domestic cricket. With the BPL absent from the calendar, the new tournament will carry the responsibility of keeping competitive cricket active in the country.Also Read- How Can India vs Pakistan Still Happen In Asian Games 2026?
