No Bangladesh Premier League This Year, Confirms BCB Chief, Nazmul Hasan

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been scrapped for the year 2020 amid the COVID-19 epidemic. In such a situation, when the big cricketers of the world are busy playing IPL and international cricket has started, then it seems that there is not much left for Bangladesh players to do. However, Bangladesh players are currently participating in the three-team 50-over tournament at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

Earlier, their visit to Sri Lanka was also cancelled due to SLC’s strict Quarantine protocol. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Nazmul Hasan Papon said that BPL cannot happen without foreign cricketers.

“BPL is not happening this year,” Nazmul told reporters while launching the inaugural edition of the three-team 50-over tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

“Let’s see it in next year. We do not want to miss any game but everything will depend on the situation and circumstances.” He said the decision was taken keeping in mind the participation of foreign cricketers and other logistics.

“Because whenever there is talk of BPL, there must be foreign cricketers. At the same time, there is the matter of production. Now if we can do those in Bangladesh then we have no objection.

“But it is a little bigger arrangement because of the number of players there and the team management are much higher. I don’t know if we are able to handle that or not,” Hasan said.

Nazmul ruled out the possibility of hosting BPL in any foreign country. He said that from the financial front, it is not possible to spend a lot of money on creating bio-security bubbles.

“I don’t think it will be easy (host the tournament outside). I tell you when we go running in Bangladesh (BPL), except for one or two franchises, the rest of us have a hard time to play the tournament,” Hasan said.

“I heard it today the bio-security belt has to be created outside say in the UK and even in Dubai for the IPL as well and I don’t think it is possible for anyone. It is almost impossible for us to spend so much money.”

Bangladesh cricketers last played international cricket against Zimbabwe in March 2020.