The BPL is making its way back to Dhaka after passing through Sylhet and Chittagong. Out of the 42 league matches, 32 have already been played. The last 10 matches of the league stage will take place at Mirpur Shere Bangla from today until February 1. After that, the playoffs will begin. Rangpur Riders have already secured their spot in the playoffs. In the race to join them, Fortune Barishal, Chittagong Kings, and Khulna Tigers are in the lead, with the other three teams still in contention.
Rangpur Riders: 9 matches, 16 points
Rangpur Riders were the first to confirm their playoff spot after winning 8 out of their first 9 matches. Even though they lost their latest game, they remain at the top of the points table. Their aim now is to finish in the top two and play in the qualifier, which can be achieved with just one more win. There’s also a chance to enter the playoffs with the highest points in BPL history if they win two more matches. Their remaining opponents are Rajshahi, Chittagong, and Khulna.
Fortune Barishal: 8 matches, 12 points
Fortune Barishal is in strong contention for a playoff spot. With four matches left, they are in a favorable position to qualify. Winning just one more match will guarantee their spot, and two wins would secure a place in the qualifier without any further calculations. Their remaining matches are against Sylhet, Khulna, Dhaka, and Chittagong.
Chittagong Kings: 9 matches, 10 points
After the Chittagong leg, Chittagong Kings are in third place on the points table. To reach the playoffs, they must win at least two more matches. One win could potentially get them a spot in the eliminator, depending on the net run rate. With a positive net run rate (+1.045), they are in a better position than some of the other teams. Their remaining matches are against the top two teams, Rangpur and Barishal, as well as the bottom-ranked team, Sylhet.
Khulna Tigers: 9 matches, 8 points
Khulna Tigers have had a mixed experience in this year’s BPL, with both highs and lows. To qualify for the playoffs, they must win all three of their remaining matches, or at least two, with the hope that Rajshahi loses a match. However, Khulna faces a tough challenge as two of their final three matches are against the top two teams, Rangpur and Barishal, with the last match against the struggling Dhaka Capitals.
Durbar Rajshahi: 10 matches, 8 points
After nearly five years, Rajshahi returned to the BPL, but the team has struggled to make an impact. Currently in fifth place with 8 points, they have two matches left—one against Rangpur and one against Sylhet. Their net run rate (-1.400) also works against them. To reach the playoffs, Rajshahi must win both remaining matches by a large margin and hope that Khulna loses multiple games.
Dhaka Capitals: 10 matches, 6 points
Dhaka Capitals had a lot of hype coming into the BPL but have failed to live up to expectations. After losing their first six matches, they were nearly out of playoff contention, but a recent recovery has kept their hopes alive. For Dhaka to qualify, they must win their final two matches, preferably by a large margin. Additionally, they need Khulna and Rajshahi to not exceed 10 points.
Sylhet Strikers: 9 matches, 4 points
For Sylhet Strikers, qualifying for the playoffs requires a miracle. They are still mathematically in the race, but they have no control over their fate. They must win all three of their remaining matches—against Barishal, Rajshahi, and Chittagong—and win them by huge margins. That would bring them to 10 points, at which point their net run rate could be the deciding factor. If four teams finish with more than 10 points, Sylhet will be eliminated.
In BPL history, there is one instance where a team reached the playoffs with 10 points. In 2013, Duronto Rajshahi secured a spot despite having 10 points, alongside Rangpur Riders and Barishal Burners, who also had 10 points. However, due to head-to-head results, Rangpur and Barishal were eliminated. Now, if multiple teams are tied on points, the net run rate is used to decide playoff spots.