No BPL this year

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will not host the franchise-based T20 tournament Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) this year.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon sees no scope to organise the tournament due to coronavirus situation.

He thinks that it is not possible to organise BPL due to participation and production complexity of foreign cricketers. BCB plans to host the BPL at a convenient time if the situation improves next year.

On Sunday, the cricket board chief said, “BPL is not happening this year. The situation will be monitored next year. We do not want to miss any game. But everything now depends on the situation. When we talk about BPL, the words and production of foreign players come to mind first. The competition can be held if we can bring them.”

The Indian Premier League (IPL) was scheduled to be held in April-May, but the tournament was postponed indefinitely. After the situation came under control, India hosted IPL in the United Arab Emirates.

When asked about holding BPL abroad, Nazmul Hasan said, “‘Organising BPL outside the country is not easy. Our franchises have a hard time running tournaments in Bangladesh. It is not possible for any of us to hold a tournament in England-Dubai in a bio-bubble zone.”

Last time BCB organised ‘Bangabandhu BPL’ to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The seven-team tournament was full of excitement with the participation of local and foreign cricketers. Rajshahi Royals won the BPL last time.