The Daily Corporate Desk
Dhaka, 28 August 2026: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal has sought Walton’s support for the board’s plan to transform the country’s major domestic cricket competitions into franchise-based leagues.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting between a high-level BCB delegation and senior officials of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC at the company’s corporate office in Dhaka.
The BCB is working to restructure the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) and National Cricket League (NCL) under a franchise model similar to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The proposed structure is expected to cover first-class, one-day and T20 formats, with the aim of making domestic cricket more competitive and commercially sustainable.
During the meeting, Tamim Iqbal invited Walton to participate in the proposed competitions by potentially fielding a franchise team. He also highlighted Walton’s longstanding involvement in Bangladesh cricket and sought continued corporate support for the development of the sport.
“Walton is closely associated with the country’s cricket community. It has regularly sponsored domestic, national and international cricket events,” Tamim said.
The BCB delegation included Vice-President Fahim Sinha, Chief Executive Officer Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, Marketing and Commercial Committee Chairman Masud Uzzaman and Vice-Chairman Asif Rabbani.
Representing Walton were Vice-Chairman SM Ashraful Alam, Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam and other senior executives.
Walton welcomed the BCB’s franchise-based domestic cricket initiative and expressed its willingness to support the plan. SM Mahbubul Alam said the company has been involved with domestic, national and international cricket for more than a decade and would continue its sponsorship activities.
Walton has sponsored 13 consecutive editions of the Dhaka Premier League and the National Cricket League, while also operating the Central Zone franchise in the first-class Bangladesh Cricket League for nine consecutive years.
The company’s Vice-Chairman SM Ashraful Alam also said Walton’s brand operations have expanded to 55 countries, as the company continues to pursue its ambition of becoming a global electronics and technology brand.
The proposed franchise model could mark a significant shift in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket ecosystem by bringing greater corporate participation, commercial investment and professional management into competitions outside the BPL.
