Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal thinks that the Bangladesh Premier League had the potential to grow into one of the top T20 leagues worldwide during its first years. The league failed to achieve that success because planning deficiencies and management issues prevented it from progressing. Tamim expressed his opinion through a podcast with Mushfiqur Rahim who is also a Bangladesh cricketer. The two players discussed the reasons which prevented the Bangladesh Premier League from developing faster. Early Seasons Showed Big Promise The BPL started in 2012 and quickly gained attention from cricket fans. International players joined the league during its first editions because of Bangladesh's strong fan following. The first editions of the BPL brought great success which led to strong financial support according to Tamim. Tamim said: “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.” The BPL would have developed into one of the leading T20 leagues worldwide if they had maintained their previous operational method for several more years according to him. He Added: “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.” Also Read | BCCI’s Rajiv Shukla Responds After Sunrisers Leeds Sign Abrar Ahmed in The Hundred 2026 Auction Constant Changes Hurt The League Tamim also pointed out that teams changing owners frequently was another big issue. Fan loyalty toward franchises became difficult because some teams disappeared while new ones emerged into the league. He further added: “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.” He stated the league needed to develop its future direction instead of following its existing disorganized path. The competition experienced system transformations together with rule changes and schedule modifications. Weak marketing practices prevented franchises from developing their unique brand identities. Current Problems In The BPL The BPL has encountered multiple challenges during recent years. Players have not been paid yet which has become the main problem for the league. Some cricketers have even refused to take part in matches or training due to unpaid salaries. The league faces serious problems because of match-fixing and corruption allegations. The authorities investigated suspicious matches and tournament activities which raised concerns for the tournament. The Bangladesh Cricket Board assumed control over some of the teams due to financial issues and the instability of the franchises. The BPL no longer manages to uphold its prestige among the players and the fans due to the issues. Experts have stated that the initial momentum could have been handled better to give the league a more prestigious status.