Tamim Iqbal Reveals Why The BPL Failed To Become The Next IPL

Tamim Iqbal questions BPL's failure [Source: @arnuX05/X.com]

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal said the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) had a real chance to become as big as the IPL but missed that opportunity because of long-term management and structural problems.

He made these comments during a podcast conversation with fellow Bangladesh star Mushfiqur Rahim. The duo discussed how BPL lagged in multiple areas, which resulted in a complete downfall of the league.

Tamim Iqbal drops a truth bomb on BPL’s missed IPL opportunity

When the BPL started in 2012, it had many advantages. Bangladesh had a massive cricket fanbase, and hence many top international players participated in the league. T20 leagues were just beginning globally, so the BPL could have become a major one. 

Now, according to Tamim Iqbal, at that time, if the league had been managed properly, it could have become the second-biggest league after the IPL. But instead, the growth stalled. 

“Those three seasons were excellent. Proper corporate groups came in who had the ability to spend 200-250 million taka a year without any hesitation. But later, disputes between the franchises and the board led to the decision for the board to run the tournament itself. That’s where things started to fall apart,” Tamim said.

Tamim Iqbal also added that teams constantly changing owners or disappearing was also one of the biggest problems BPL faced. 

“I honestly think that if the structure had continued for two more years, the BPL could have been among the top three or four leagues globally.”

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Poor long-term planning destroyed BPL

According to Tamim Iqbal, the league lacked a consistent vision from administrators. Changing formats, rules, unclear scheduling, a weak marketing strategy, and a lack of investment in franchise brands are some problems BPL struggled to deal with.

“If I play for a team like Dhaka for five or six years, I will naturally start to feel connected to that franchise. Fans would begin supporting Dhaka because of that connection. That’s how a brand is created. Unfortunately, we never really did that in the BPL.”

Tamim Iqbal also revealed that he tried to put forth his issues ahead of the BPL management. But the response was underwhelming and demotivating. 

“I told them that Barishal’s success means success for the BPL. If players like me, Mushfiq or Riyad suddenly leave because of rule changes, the brand loses its identity. But the response was different, they were thinking about getting those players for their own teams if they went to the auction.”

BPL is now struggling to retain its identity 

That being said, in the present day, BPL is struggling to stay relevant. The biggest issue is delayed or unpaid player salaries, with some players boycotting matches and training over unpaid dues. 

The league has also been hit by match-fixing allegations and corruption investigations, including a large inquiry report and probes into suspicious matches.

Additionally, franchise instability and financial troubles have forced the BCB to take control of some teams.

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