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Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League

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The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, also known as the Dhaka Premier League, is a club List A tournament in Bangladesh which has been contested annually since the 1973–74 season. It has had List A status since the 2013–14 season.[1] It is run by the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis.[2]

Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League
CountriesBangladesh
AdministratorCricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis,
Bangladesh Cricket Board
FormatList A
First edition1973–74
2013–14 (as List A competition)
Latest edition2024–25
Next edition2026
Tournament formatRound Robin
Number of teams12
Current championAbahani Limited (6th title)
Most successfulAbahani Limited (6 titles)
Relegation toDhaka First Division Cricket League
TVTsports & GTV
BCB YouTube Channel

History

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Since its inauguration in 1973–74 the league has been the premier club cricket competition in Bangladesh.[3] Occupying more than 200 players for two months each year, it is widely regarded as the "finishing school" for cricketers in Bangladesh.[4] It gained List A status starting with the 2013–14 tournament, thus superseding the National Cricket League One-Day as Bangladesh's main List A competition.

From 1973–74 to 2011–12, Abahani Limited won the championship 17 times.[5] Other winners were Mohammedan Sporting Club (nine titles), Biman Bangladesh Airlines (five titles), Victoria Sporting Club (four titles), Old DOHS Sports Club (two titles) and Brothers Union (one title).[6] The tournament was not held in 2012–13.

To commemorate the centenary of the birth of the founding father of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 2019–20 season of the league was named "Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2019–20".[7] However, the competition was postponed shortly after starting and later abandoned, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next tournament, in 2021–22, was officially named the "Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2021–2022 sponsored by Walton".[8]

List A winners

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Format

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The competition is played as a round-robin of 12 teams, followed by play-off rounds among the top six teams for the championship and among the lowest three teams to determine relegation. However, the 2025–26 tournament ends after the 12-team round-robin.

The 2013–14 competition ran from September to November 2014; the 2014–15 competition ran from November 2014 to January 2015; the 2015–16 competition ran from April to June 2016; the 2016–17 competition ran from April to June 2017; the 2017–18 competition ran from February to April 2018; the 2018–19 competition ran from March to April 2019; the 2019–20 competition began in March 2020, but was almost immediately postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic; the next tournament, 2021–22, ran from March to April 2022, and the 2022–23 tournament ran from March to May 2023.

All matches are played on neutral grounds in the Dhaka area. In 2016–17 only three grounds were used: Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, and Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No 3 and No 4 Grounds in Savar. The same three grounds were used in 2017–18 and 2018–19, as well as Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Players

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The system of allocating players to clubs varies from season to season, but has elements of lottery.[18][19][20] Players frequently change clubs between seasons. Imrul Kayes, for example, played for Victoria Sporting Club in 2006–07 and 2014–15, Mohammedan Sporting Club in 2007–08, 2011–12, 2022–23 and 2023–24, Gazi Tank Cricketers in 2008–09 and 2013–14, Abahani Limited in 2009–10 and 2010–11, Brothers Union in 2015–16, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in 2016–17 and 2021–22, Gazi Group Cricketers in 2017–18 and 2018–19, and Agrani Bank in 2024–25 and 2025–26.[21] Of the 22 players who appeared for Brothers Union in 2013–14,[22] only two were among the 20 Brothers Union players in 2014–15.[23]

From the 1980s to the 2019–20 competition most teams included players from outside Bangladesh.[3] In 2013–14 82 foreign players played in the competition.[24] Beginning with the 2015–16 competition, only one foreign player has been allowed in any playing eleven, although clubs are allowed to have several foreign players on their list;[25] in 2015–16 36 foreign players took part, including 22 Indians and 10 Sri Lankans.[26] Foreign players were excluded from the 2019–20 competition,[27] but were allowed again for the 2021–22 competition, with no more than one foreign player per team per match.[8] There were no foreign players in the 2023–24 tournament, as most of the clubs were unable to afford the cost.[2]

Teams

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There are 12 teams in each tournament, changing each season with promotion and relegation. The two lowest-finishing teams are demoted to the second division, the Dhaka First Division Cricket League, for the next season, and the top two teams in the Dhaka First Division Cricket League are promoted.

In the first 12 List A seasons, 25 teams competed. Their final positions at the end of each tournament are as follows.

Teams 2013
–14		 2014
–15		 2015
–16		 2016
–17		 2017
–18		 2018
–19		 2019
–20		 2021
–22		 2022
–23		 2023
–24		 2024
–25		 2025
–26
Abahani 9 4 W 3 W W b 4 W W W in progress
Agrani Bank 11 11 6 in progress
BKSP 12
Brothers Union 7 8 10 8 10 10 b 9 9 8 10 d
City Club 10 8 12 in progress
CC School a 11
Dhaka Leopards 12 in progress
Bashundhara Str 2 9 9 6 3 4 b W 2 5 8 in progress
Gazi Group 8 W 6 8 b 6 6 6 3 in progress
Gazi Tank W
Gazi Tyres 11
Gulshan CC 5 in progress
Kala Bagan CA 6 3 12
Kala Bagan KC 10 10 8 9 12
Khelaghar SKS 11 10 5 9 b 11
Legends of Rupganj 5 3 7 2 2 b 2 4 7 4 in progress
Mohammedan SC 4 6 5 5 7 6 b 7 5 2 2 in progress
Old DOHS 12 b
Partex SC 11 12 b 9 11
Prime Bank 5 W 6 4 9 5 b 3 3 3 7 in progress
Prime Doleshwar SC 3 4 2 2 4 3 b c
Rupganj Tigers 5 7 10 9 in progress
Shinepukur 8 7 b 8 10 4 12
Uttara SC 11
Victoria SC 8 7 4 11

W = Winners
a. Cricket Coaching School played the first six matches in 2013–14 but were demoted immediately after failing to arrive at their seventh match in time to play.[28]
b. These teams competed in 2019–20, but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was abandoned shortly after it began. The pandemic also prevented the 2020–21 tournament from going ahead.
c. Prime Doleshwar were scheduled to take part in 2021–22, but withdrew shortly before the tournament began, leaving 11 teams.[29]
d. Brothers Union were demoted after the players refused to play in the ninth-round match in 2025–26 owing to a dispute with the team management.[30]

Records

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Highest score

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Best bowling figures

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Most runs in a season

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Most wickets in a season

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Other records

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The fastest century is by Habibur Rahman, who reached 100 off 45 balls for Legends of Rupganj against City Club in 2025–26, and finished with 130 off 58 balls.[33] The record was previously held by Brendan Taylor, who reached 100 off 46 balls for Prime Bank against Kalabagan Cricket Academy in 2013–14.[34]

The highest team score, and the only score of 400 or more, is 422 for 8 by Prime Bank against Brothers Union in 2024–25.[35][36]

References

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  1. ↑ "Walton Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2014". Bangladesh Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 "No foreigners in Dhaka Premier League this year". The Daily Star. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 Isam, Mohammad (9 June 2017). "The original premier league". Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. ↑ Isam, Mohammad (19 March 2024). "DPL week 1: Abahani's flying start". Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Isam, Mohammad (9 September 2013). "No restriction on Pakistan players in Dhaka Premier League". Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Uddin, Mazhar (29 November 2013). "Gazi Tank claim first DPL title". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "General guideline" (PDF). Tiger Cricket. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Bangabandhu DPL to kick off today". The Daily Observer. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Morgan stars in Gazi Tank's title win". ESPN cricinfo. 29 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Soumya Sarkar leads Prime Bank to title win". ESPN cricinfo. 4 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Abahani thump Prime Bank to lift 18th title". ESPN cricinfo. 23 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "Gazi win maiden DPL title despite losing last game". ESPN cricinfo. 6 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Isam, Mohammad (5 April 2018). "Abahani Limited clinch 19th DPL title". ESPN cricinfo.
  14. ↑ "Abahani clinch DPDCL 2018–19 Title". Bangladesh Cricket Board. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  15. ↑ "Dhaka Premier League 'not possible' this year, can only start in January – Khaled Mahmud". ESPN cricinfo. 20 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Isam, Mohammad. "DPL: Abahani pip Sheikh Jamal at the final hurdle to lift 21st title". Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Abahani seal third straight BDPL title with dominant win over Mohammedan". Daily Sun. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  18. ↑ Isam, Mohammad. "'Players by choice' transfer set to return in Dhaka league". Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  19. ↑ Isam, Mohammad. "BCB reverts to draft system for player transfers in DPL". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  20. ↑ "Rules for the players' draft event" (PDF). TigerCricket. Bangladesh Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  21. ↑ "List A matches played by Imrul Kayes". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  22. ↑ "Batting for Brothers Union 2013–14". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Batting for Brothers Union 2014–15". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  24. ↑ Wisden India Almanack 2015, p. 117.
  25. ↑ Isam, Mohammad. "Manoj Tiwary signed by Abahani Limited to play Dhaka Premier League". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  26. ↑ Isam, Mohammad; Kishore, Shashank. "Indians dominate overseas presence in DPL". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  27. ↑ "Premier Cricket League: No foreign cricketer allowed this year". UNB. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  28. ↑ "Brothers Union v Cricket Coaching School 2013–14". CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "Dhaka Premier League cricket begins Tuesday". UNB. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "Tamim unable to intervene as Brothers face relegation". Daily Sun. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Isam, Mohammad. "Raqibul's mammoth 190 headlines 705-run slugfest". Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  32. ↑ "Gazi Group destroy Abahani after Yeasin's record eight-for". Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  33. ↑ "Habibur smashes fastest century in Bangladesh's 50-Over cricket history with 13 Sixes". Prothomalo. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  34. ↑ "Fastest hundreds in List A cricket". Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "DPL week 1: Naim's 176 helps Prime Bank breach the 400 mark". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  36. ↑ "Prime Bank vs Brothers, 15th Match at Dhaka, DPDCL, Mar 09 2025". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
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