BPL Draft 2027: 7 Essential Facts About the Players’ Draft, Dates & Rules
The BPL draft is the one night of the year when every Bangladeshi cricket fan becomes a team manager. Before a single ball is bowled, franchises sit at numbered tables, call out names, and decide who wears which jersey for the next five weeks. If you want to understand why your team looks the way it does in January, you have to understand the BPL draft first.
This guide explains how the BPL draft for the 2026-27 season (BPL 13) is expected to work, when it is likely to happen, how player categories and prices are set, the difference between a draft and an auction, and which players will be the most wanted names on the night.
BPL Draft 2027 at a Glance
Here is the short version for readers who just want the key facts. Everything marked “expected” is based on how recent seasons were run, because the Bangladesh Cricket Board has not yet published a confirmed date.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Event | BPL 2026-27 players’ draft (Season 13) |
| Organiser | BPL Governing Council, Bangladesh Cricket Board |
| Expected window | Late November to mid-December 2026 |
| Expected venue | A hotel in Dhaka (recent drafts used Radisson Blu and similar venues) |
| Format | Draft or auction, still to be confirmed |
| Teams taking part | 6 franchises expected |
| Overseas players per XI | 4 |
| Most expensive local in 2026 | Mohammad Naim, Tk 1.10 crore |
What Is the BPL Draft?
The BPL draft is the official player selection event where each franchise builds its squad for the coming Bangladesh Premier League season. Local and overseas cricketers register with the BCB, get placed into price categories, and then teams take turns picking them.
Think of it like a school sports day where captains pick sides, except the captains are corporate franchise owners, the players are paid in dollars and taka, and the whole thing is broadcast live on television.
The draft matters because BPL squads change heavily from one season to the next. Unlike some leagues where teams keep most of their players for years, the BPL reshuffles almost every squad every season. Owners change, franchise names change, and players move freely between teams.
Why the BPL Draft Gets So Much Attention
Three things make the BPL draft one of the biggest off-field events in Bangladeshi cricket.
First, it shows the real ambition of each franchise. A team that spends heavily on national stars is telling you it wants the trophy. A team that picks cheap youngsters is usually rebuilding or saving money.
Second, it decides the overseas quality of the tournament. A strong draft brings Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Afghan, Caribbean and English players to Mirpur, Sylhet and Chattogram. A weak one leaves fans watching second-string signings.
Third, it is simply entertaining. Surprise picks, bidding wars and franchise rivalries give fans something to argue about for weeks before the season starts.
BPL Draft vs BPL Auction: The Difference
The BPL has used both systems over the years, and people mix them up constantly. Knowing which one is being used tells you a lot about how squads will be built.
How a Draft Works
In a traditional BPL draft, every registered player sits in a fixed price category. All players in Category A cost the same fee, all players in Category B cost the same lower fee, and so on.
Franchises pick in a set order, usually decided by lottery. Because prices are fixed, the competition is about pick order and timing rather than money. If two teams want the same bowler, whoever picks first gets him.
How an Auction Works
In an auction, teams bid against each other and prices float. A player listed at a base price can go for several times that figure if two or three franchises want him badly.
The BPL returned to the auction format for the 2026 season. That is how Mohammad Naim became the most expensive local player of BPL 2026, signed by Chattogram Royals for Tk 1.10 crore.
Which Format Will BPL 13 Use?
The BCB has not confirmed whether the 2026-27 season will repeat the auction or go back to the classic draft. Both are possible. The board tends to announce the format when it publishes player categories, a few weeks before the event itself.
| Feature | Draft | Auction |
|---|---|---|
| Player price | Fixed by category | Floats with bidding |
| Main competition | Pick order | Money |
| Speed | Faster, more predictable | Slower, more dramatic |
| Best for | Balanced squads, cost control | Rich franchises chasing stars |
| Recent BPL use | Most seasons up to 2025 | BPL 2026 |
When Is the BPL Draft 2027?
No official date has been announced yet. Based on the last few seasons, the BPL draft normally takes place four to six weeks before the opening match.
If the tournament starts in mid-January 2027, as reports currently suggest, the draft would most likely land somewhere between late November and mid-December 2026. We track the expected start window on our BPL 2027 start date page, and the two dates move together.
Past BPL Draft Dates
Looking back at previous seasons gives a realistic picture of when the BCB tends to hold the event.
| Season | Draft or Auction Date | Days Before Season |
|---|---|---|
| BPL 2016-17 | 30 September 2016 | About 5 weeks |
| BPL 2019-20 | 17 November 2019 | About 4 weeks |
| BPL 2023 | 23 November 2022 | About 6 weeks |
| BPL 2025 | 14 October 2024 | About 11 weeks |
| BPL 2026 | 30 November 2025 (auction) | About 4 weeks |
The pattern is clear. Late November is the most common slot, with October used when the season started earlier. A December draft is possible if franchise paperwork runs late.
What Has to Happen Before the Draft
The BPL draft cannot happen until a few things are settled. The order is usually the same every year.
- The BCB confirms the participating franchises and their owners.
- Franchises submit bank guarantees and sign agreements.
- Player registration opens for local and overseas cricketers.
- The BCB publishes player categories and the draft rules.
- Franchises announce direct signings and retentions.
- The draft or auction takes place.
When BCB finalised franchise ownership ahead of the 2026 season, it granted ownership rights for five years. That should make the 2027 process quicker, because most franchise questions were answered last year.
BPL Draft Player Categories and Prices
Every registered cricketer is placed into a category before the BPL draft. The category decides the player’s fee in a draft, or his base price in an auction.
Local Player Categories
Local players are usually split into lettered grades. For the 2025 season, the BCB placed 188 local cricketers into six classes, from the top national-team regulars down to emerging domestic players.
The top grade normally includes national captains, senior all-rounders and frontline fast bowlers. The lowest grades are where franchises find bargain youngsters who might break out during the season.
How Local Categories Usually Look
| Category | Typical Player Profile | Example Type |
|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | National team regulars, captains | Test and T20I captains, senior pacers |
| B | Established internationals | Regular T20I squad members |
| C | Fringe internationals, experienced domestic stars | Former national players |
| D | Strong domestic performers | NCL and DPL standouts |
| E / F | Emerging players, U-19 graduates | Young pace bowlers, rookie spinners |
Overseas Player Categories
Overseas players are graded separately, usually by international profile and franchise league record. In the 2025 draft, overseas Category A was set at US$80,000 and Category B at US$60,000.
Lower overseas categories exist for associate nation players and emerging names. These are often where the best value sits, because a disciplined Afghan spinner or Nepali leggie can match a big-name signing for a fraction of the price.
BPL Draft Rules You Should Know
Rules can change from season to season, but several have stayed fairly stable. These are the ones that shape every squad.
Minimum Squad Requirements
For the 2023 season, each team had to pick at least 12 players from the draft, including a minimum of ten locals and two overseas players. There was no fixed maximum for foreign picks from the draft pool.
Squad sizes in BPL 2026 ranged from 22 to 28 players, which shows how much flexibility franchises have once the minimums are met. Our BPL squads guide lists every 2026 roster in full if you want to see how teams used that space.
Direct Signings Before the Draft
Franchises can sign a limited number of players directly before the BPL draft begins. This is how teams lock in a captain or an icon player without risking a rival picking him first.
In the 2019-20 season, for example, each team could make a maximum of two direct foreign signings outside the draft. Chattogram Royals used a direct signing on Mahedi Hasan before the 2026 season, and he went on to captain them to the final.
Retention Rules
Retention lets a franchise keep some of its previous season’s players without putting them back into the pool. Champion sides retain heavily, because breaking up a winning team is hard to explain to supporters.
The BCB has not published retention rules for BPL 13 yet. Until it does, nobody knows how many title winners Rajshahi Warriors will be allowed to keep.
Overseas Limit in the Playing XI
Only four overseas players can play in a single BPL match. That is why franchises often sign eight to twelve foreigners: international duty pulls players away mid-tournament, and teams need a rotation pool.
How a BPL Draft Night Actually Works
If you have never watched one, here is what happens from start to finish on BPL draft day.
Step 1: The Lottery
Most drafts start with a lottery that decides the pick order. Getting the first pick is a big advantage, especially in a fixed-price draft where the best player simply goes to whoever calls first.
Step 2: Local Rounds
Teams pick local players category by category, starting from the top grade. The first round usually sees national stars disappear quickly.
Step 3: Overseas Rounds
Overseas rounds follow, again by category. Franchises try to balance batting, pace and spin among their foreign picks, because only four will play at a time.
Step 4: Supplementary Picks
Once the main rounds end, teams fill remaining slots with lower-category players. This is where coaches who know the domestic circuit earn their salary, picking hungry youngsters who could become next season’s stars.
Step 5: Final Squad Lists
By the end of the night, every franchise publishes its list. Expect a flood of graphics on social media within minutes, and expect half of them to contain at least one mistake.
Top Players to Watch in the BPL Draft 2027
Draft value is driven by recent form. These are the names whose BPL 2026 numbers will push their price up whenever the next BPL draft or auction takes place.
Bowlers in Highest Demand
| Player | 2026 Team | BPL 2026 Return | Why Teams Want Him |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoriful Islam | Chattogram Royals | 26 wickets | Single-season BPL record, Player of the Series |
| Binura Fernando | Rajshahi Warriors | 18 wickets | Left-arm swing, 4 for 9 in the final |
| Nasum Ahmed | Sylhet Titans | 18 wickets | Economical left-arm spin |
| Ripon Mondol | Rajshahi Warriors | 17 wickets in 8 innings | Young, quick, hat-trick taker |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Rangpur Riders | 16 wickets | Proven death-overs specialist |
Batters in Highest Demand
| Player | 2026 Team | BPL 2026 Return | Why Teams Want Him |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parvez Hossain Emon | Sylhet Titans | 395 runs | Top scorer who also keeps wicket |
| Towhid Hridoy | Rangpur Riders | 382 runs | Consistent middle-order anchor |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto | Rajshahi Warriors | 355 runs | Title-winning captain |
| Tanzid Hasan Tamim | Rajshahi Warriors | Century in the final | Big-match opener |
| Mohammad Naim | Chattogram Royals | 272 runs | Aggressive powerplay batter |
The Value Picks
Every BPL draft has a few players who go cheap and finish the season as stars. Last year, Hassan Eisakhil arrived at Noakhali Express as a replacement and outscored most marquee signings at the franchise.
Young left-arm quicks, finger spinners who can bat, and wicketkeepers who can open are the profiles to watch in the lower categories. They are rare in Bangladesh, which is exactly why smart franchises target them early.
What Each Franchise Needs From the BPL Draft
Every team arrives at the BPL draft with a different shopping list. Here is a quick read on each of the six expected franchises, based on how their 2026 seasons went.
| Franchise | 2026 Finish | Main Draft Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Rajshahi Warriors | Champions | Retain the core, re-sign Binura Fernando |
| Chattogram Royals | Runners-up | Keep Shoriful, add stable overseas batting |
| Sylhet Titans | 3rd | Protect Parvez Emon, add a death bowler |
| Rangpur Riders | 4th | Power hitting to lift totals |
| Dhaka Capitals | 5th | Rebuild the entire top order |
| Noakhali Express | 6th | Smaller, more focused squad |
Rajshahi Warriors
The champions have the simplest job. Keep Shanto, Tanzid, Mushfiqur and Ripon Mondol if the rules allow, then re-sign the overseas bowlers who won them the title.
Chattogram Royals
Chattogram reached the final despite losing their owners on the eve of the season. With stable ownership, they can build properly around Shoriful Islam rather than scrambling for emergency replacements.
Dhaka Capitals
Dhaka need the most work. A side whose leading run scorer made 169 runs in ten matches cannot fix things with small tweaks. Expect them to chase two or three proven local batters at the BPL draft.
How to Follow the BPL Draft Live
The draft is normally broadcast live on television in Bangladesh, with highlights and pick updates shared on the official BPL and franchise social media accounts.
- Watch the official broadcaster’s live coverage for every pick as it happens.
- Follow franchise accounts for confirmed signings, not fan graphics.
- Check the official BCB website for player categories and final lists.
- Bookmark this page, because we update the full picks table on draft night.
How to Spot Fake Draft News
Fake squad lists circulate within minutes of every BPL draft. A few simple checks will save you from sharing them.
- Check for a franchise logo and an official account as the source.
- Look for a date. Old lists get recycled every year.
- Count the overseas players. Real lists mark them clearly.
- Be suspicious of any “leaked” list posted before the draft starts.
Common Myths About the BPL Draft
“The Biggest Name Always Goes First”
Not true. Franchises pick for balance, not fame. A team with three openers will skip a star opener and take a death bowler instead.
“Every Drafted Player Will Play”
Also not true. Squads of 22 to 28 players mean several names never take the field. Overseas players in particular may only be available for part of the season.
“The Draft Decides the Champion”
It helps, but it does not decide everything. Chattogram Royals reached the 2026 final after losing most of their drafted overseas players. Coaching, form and luck still matter more than any single night in a Dhaka hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions About the BPL Draft
When is the BPL draft 2027?
The BCB has not announced a date. Based on past seasons, the BPL draft is expected between late November and mid-December 2026.
Where is the BPL draft held?
Recent drafts have been held at hotels in Dhaka, including the Radisson Blu Water Garden. The 2027 venue has not been confirmed.
Is BPL 2027 a draft or an auction?
That has not been confirmed. BPL 2026 used an auction, while most earlier seasons used a fixed-price draft.
How many overseas players can play in a BPL match?
Four overseas players are allowed in a playing XI. Squads usually carry many more to cover international call-ups.
Who was the most expensive player in the 2026 auction?
Mohammad Naim was the most expensive local player, bought by Chattogram Royals for Tk 1.10 crore.
Can BPL teams sign players outside the draft?
Yes. Franchises are allowed a limited number of direct signings before the BPL draft, usually to lock in a captain or icon player.
Can Indian players join the BPL draft?
Indian players currently contracted to the BCCI do not play in overseas leagues. Unmukt Chand is the only former Indian cricketer known to have registered for a BPL draft.
How long after the draft does the BPL start?
Usually four to six weeks. That gap gives franchises time for training camps, practice matches and visa arrangements for overseas players.
Final Thoughts on the BPL Draft
The BPL draft is where every BPL season really begins. It shows which franchises are serious, which young players are about to break through, and which overseas stars will light up Bangladeshi grounds in January.
Until the BCB names a date, the smart expectation is a late November or early December event in Dhaka, with Shoriful Islam, Parvez Hossain Emon and Ripon Mondol among the most wanted names. When the picks start, this page becomes the place to follow every one of them.
