BCB is puzzling over the BPL Problem – Bangladesh Premier League

August 28, 2024

BCB is puzzling over the BPL Problem – Bangladesh Premier League

The newly elected Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Faruque Ahmed, has scheduled Thursday’s board of directors meeting. Among various essential topics, the discussion will likely include whether the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) can be held as planned.

Faruque has assumed leadership of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which has been mired in uncertainty since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. This political upheaval, driven by a student-led movement, has left the BCB in disarray. Many directors associated with the previous government have disappeared or gone into hiding to avoid political fallout. As a result, several standing committees within the BCB have come to a complete standstill, impeding progress and decision-making within the organization.

The meeting will focus on restoring the standing committees’ activities with new personnel and addressing the upcoming BPL, which faces numerous challenges.

The primary challenge is the uncertain status of several franchises whose owners, having strong connections with the Awami League, are now on the run following recent political developments in the country.

The Comilla Victorians, the most successful team in BPL history with four titles, was managed by Nafisa Kamal, the daughter of Awami League lawmaker and former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Similarly, teams such as Durdanto Dhaka, Fortune Barishal, and Khulna Tigers are also known to have political connections.

The remaining three teams in the seven-team tournament—Sylhet Strikers, Chattogram Challengers, and Rangpur Riders—are expected to continue their participation. However, they are also grappling with financial difficulties.

“The Awami League-backed teams are not in the scene at the moment. Apart from that, the market situation is not good at all. There were sponsor issues in the previous editions and now the challenges will exacerbate,” an official from the franchise, who requested to remain anonymous, told The Daily Star yesterday.

“Previously, we would have to spend around Tk 15-16 crore each season and would hardly get Tk 3-5 crore from sponsors. Getting that same amount from sponsors is also unlikely for the next edition,” he also mentioned.

Before the most recent ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) contacted the various franchises to secure their commitment. In this process, some teams confirmed their intention to participate, indicating a positive response to the BCB’s request. This outreach was part of the BCB’s efforts to ensure full participation and support for the tournament amidst the prevailing uncertainties.

However, there has been a notable lack of formal communication with the franchises since the shift in government and Faruque’s recent appointment as BCB president—succeeding Nazmul Hassan Papon, who was previously an Awami League lawmaker. The transition in leadership and political changes have led to a gap in ongoing discussions and coordination with these teams, leaving many issues unresolved and creating uncertainty about their future involvement and commitments.

Previously, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had set the players’ draft for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in the first week of September. This timing was intended to align with the tournament’s schedule, which will run from January 1 to February 11 next year. However, following the recent shifts in the board’s leadership and the resulting organizational upheaval, it now appears highly improbable that the draft will proceed as initially scheduled. The changes have introduced significant uncertainty and disruptions, making it challenging to adhere to the initial timeline for the draft.

“In these extraordinary circumstances, there is a big question whether the teams would play or not. The board is yet to receive confirmation from them as well. We have to see which teams are in a position to participate. We are currently working on that,” a BCB official, speaking anonymously, told the Daily Star.

“We are trying to stick to the legal framework. If the franchises do not respond, the board will then decide whether or not to terminate the contract. Whatever we do, we have to maintain the legal framework.”

“We are closely monitoring the situation. We are also considering what the impact would be like if the number of participating teams go down to five from seven.”

Another significant challenge for Faruque, a longtime critic of the BPL’s financial problems, will be implementing a new tournament structure. Since its inception in 2012, the BPL has faced numerous controversies and issues due to mismanagement.

Another major challenge for Faruque, who has been a vocal critic of the BPL’s financial problems over the years, is establishing a new tournament structure. Since its introduction in 2012, the BPL has faced repeated controversies and issues due to mismanagement.

The BCB will also need to tackle the issue of specific teams that have yet to settle players’ payments from the tournament’s previous edition.

Amidst all these challenges, there is a silver lining: it has been reported that some interested companies have already met with the newly-elected BCB president, expressing interest in acquiring new franchises for the BPL. The board remains hopeful that the event can still proceed as planned.

“We are very optimistic to hold the tournament in time. We believe we can make it happen,” the board official concluded.

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.