The third edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will begin from November 20, BPL governing council announced today.

Six teams – Dhaka Dynamites, Chittagong Vikings, Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Royals – will be contesting in this year’s edition of the T20 tournament.

A total of 196 foreign cricketers have registered to take part in the bidding process of BPL-3, including stars like Kumar Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and Tilakaratne Dilshan.

Among those registered, 53 are from England and Pakistan, 34 from West Indies, 25 from Sri Lanka, 4 from Australia and South Africa, and 15 from other cricket playing nations.

Bangladesh’s ace players Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Nasir Hossain will play as icon players in this edition.

A total of 123 Bangladeshi players have been selected by the BCB to take part in the bidding.

The players will be selected through “Players by Choice” bidding, which is scheduled to take place on October 26.  

The matches will begin on November 20 and the final will be held on December 15. All the matches will be played in Dhaka and Chittagong.