Bangladesh’s franchise competition, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), is slated to begin in December, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the organising committee already moving ahead with preparations.

Speculation had swirled over whether defending champions Fortune Barishal would take part this season. 

Team owner Mizanur Rahman has now broken his silence, saying Barishal are keen to play—and that Tamim Iqbal would be in the squad if they do. 

Tamim, who recently announced a break from all forms of cricket, had prompted doubts about his BPL participation, but the Barishal owner offered a different view.

“I don’t think Tamim will skip the BPL,” he told a local media outlet. "His talk of a boycott was about regular matches. If the BPL takes place, I will request him to play, and I believe that if Barishal participate, Tamim will certainly take the field," he said.

Under Tamim’s captaincy, Fortune Barishal captured their first BPL title last season, fuelling fans’ hopes of seeing him back in Barishal colours in the upcoming campaign.

There is, however, some concern within the Barishal camp about the lead-in. Citing insufficient preparation time, the franchise has asked the BPL Governing Council to push the schedule back slightly, arguing that assembling the squad, finalising player contracts and completing logistics will be difficult on a compressed timeline. Barishal officials say a modest delay would allow teams to prepare more effectively.

The BCB has already announced that five teams will compete in the next BPL, with the tournament scheduled to begin in mid-December. Attention now turns to whether Fortune Barishal—and Tamim Iqbal—will once again light up the competition.

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