More buyers than teams

At least ten buyers have expressed their interest to purchase the Bangladesh Premier League's (BPL's) franchises for the third edition of the T20 competition League due to begin in November this year.

Yesterday was the last date for interested candidates to apply for an opportunity to own a team in the cash-rich competition. It was learnt that companies like Beximco and Square were a couple out of the dozen to have submitted their Expression of Interest [EOI] to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday.

According to a BCB official, the owners of Barisal Burners, Chittagong Kings and Sylhet Royals from the second season of the competition also reportedly submitted EOIs.

"Around 10 to 12 have shown interest. We might have switched off the application right now, but if we get good deals in the near future from companies, we may consider," said BPL governing council member-secretary IH Mallick.

"If the owners from the last season want to buy franchises again then they will firstly have to clear the financial issues that remain," he added.

With candidates having expressed their interest, the next step will witness the governing council provide them with the complete financial terms and conditions. The contenders who won't be able to meet those terms will automatically be left out of the race.

"It's good that we have got more buyers than the seven franchises being sold. But we will get a realistic idea once the financial terms are released," said Mallick, adding that the participants would get a week's time to meet the monetary demands.

If there are more than seven buyers meeting the demands, then the governing council will interview the participants and sell the franchise to the company it deems best to take part in the T20 contest.

The cost of each of the franchises has been fixed at Tk 1 crore.