Former champions Rupali Bank Krira Parishad are unlikely to take part in the upcoming Women's Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2024-25, scheduled to start on February 19, a Bangladesh Cricket Board official said yesterday.

Rupali Bank, who won their last title in the WDPL in 2022-23 and finished third in the previous season, did not take part in the players' transfer event held on February 4 and 6, and the majority of their players have already switched clubs after the club showed reluctance to participate in the competition.

From last year's Rupali Bank squad, national skipper Nigar Sultana Joty will represent newcomers Sheltech this year, while Farzana Haque Pinky and Rabeya Khan will play for Abahani Limited and Gulshan Youth Club, respectively. Another former Rupali Bank cricketer, Lata Mondal, will play for Sheltech this year.

It was learnt that Rupali Bank witnessed a management change in recent times, and the new board is unwilling to continue their team.

"There is an official procedure to form a team. There is a matter of budget. I've learnt that their MD (Managing Director) didn't approve the formation of the team," the official, requesting anonymity, told The Daily Star.

The organisation also has a team with the same name in the Dhaka Second Division Cricket League, and last month, they featured in the men's tournament, where they finished sixth in Group A with six wins from 11 matches and failed to qualify for the Super League.

The concerned officials of the tournament are currently planning to hold a nine-team competition in the absence of Rupali Bank. Previously, 10 teams participated in the 50-over domestic competition.