The Bangladesh Premier League's fourth edition will be played between seven franchises this year, two more than the last season. The T20 league is set to kick off on November 4 2016 with the player draft scheduled to take place on September 30.

A press release sent from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) last night revealed that Khulna and Rajshahi had returned as franchises to join Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Dynamites and Chittagong Vikings. Sylhet Super Stars meanwhile, will not be a part of the fourth edition after its contract was terminated for breaching franchisee agreement terms.

The BCB had invited Expression of Interest for franchisee rights of Rajshahi and Khulna and subsequently four organisations -- GEMCON Group, Mango Entertainment Ltd, Tanveer Food Ltd (A concern of Meghna Group of Industries) and LABAID Group -- have been shortlisted after scrutiny.