With nearly an hour and a half still remaining before the match began, helicopters hovered over the skies above the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Gradually, one of them descended onto the field, drawing gasps of curiosity from the spectators in the stands. Many watched in awe, while others hurried to capture the extraordinary moment on their mobile phone cameras.

Wrapped in red velvet, the BPL trophy was brought down from the helicopter by Akbar Ali and Salma Khatun. Both have enjoyed success as captains for Bangladesh in continental and global tournaments. This year’s BPL trophy was unveiled for the first time in their hands. Later that night, Rajshahi Warriors turned the occasion into a championship celebration by defeating Chattogram Royals by 63 runs in the final. Rajshahi had previously won the BPL title in 2020 as Rajshahi Royals. With a different franchise name, this marked their second championship title.

From the morning of the BPL final, a festive atmosphere could be felt around Mirpur. Conversations in the regional dialects of Rajshahi and Chattogram could be heard everywhere. Many fans had traveled hundreds of miles to Dhaka to watch the final. Even before noon had passed, the galleries of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium were filled with spectators.