UNB, Dhaka :
The franchise-based 6th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2018-19 scheduled to begin in October is likely to be deferred to January next year due to the upcoming general election.
Member secretary of BPL Governing Council Ismail Haider Mallick told reporters on Wednesday that it will be tough to provide adequate security forces to seven BPL teams in three venues across the country just before the general election. “As most of the forces will remain busy with the country’s election, it’ll be challenging for us to arrange BPL as per the schedule.”
Some of the BPL team owners will directly be involved in the elections. Owners of Khulna Titans, Rajshahi Kings, Sylhet Sixers and Cumilla Victorians are MPs and a minister.
“We’re more focused on the security. We can’t provide every team with enough police or security forces. I think we’ll take a decision within a week, but there’s likelihood of a delay although we can’t still rule out the possibility of hosting BPL on schedule,” Ismail said.
“If we don’t get sufficient security, we’ll have to hold the tournament after the elections. So, we’re eyeing to arrange the BPL in January,” he added.
A delayed BPL will have an effect on Bangladesh’s international calendar, with Zimbabwe scheduled to tour the country for three Tests and three ODIs in January. That could now be pushed to October, although Zimbabwe will be in South Africa till at least mid-October.
Earlier, the 2014 edition of BPL was cancelled due to match-fixing scandal.
The franchise-based 6th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2018-19 scheduled to begin in October is likely to be deferred to January next year due to the upcoming general election.
Member secretary of BPL Governing Council Ismail Haider Mallick told reporters on Wednesday that it will be tough to provide adequate security forces to seven BPL teams in three venues across the country just before the general election. “As most of the forces will remain busy with the country’s election, it’ll be challenging for us to arrange BPL as per the schedule.”
Some of the BPL team owners will directly be involved in the elections. Owners of Khulna Titans, Rajshahi Kings, Sylhet Sixers and Cumilla Victorians are MPs and a minister.
“We’re more focused on the security. We can’t provide every team with enough police or security forces. I think we’ll take a decision within a week, but there’s likelihood of a delay although we can’t still rule out the possibility of hosting BPL on schedule,” Ismail said.
“If we don’t get sufficient security, we’ll have to hold the tournament after the elections. So, we’re eyeing to arrange the BPL in January,” he added.
A delayed BPL will have an effect on Bangladesh’s international calendar, with Zimbabwe scheduled to tour the country for three Tests and three ODIs in January. That could now be pushed to October, although Zimbabwe will be in South Africa till at least mid-October.
Earlier, the 2014 edition of BPL was cancelled due to match-fixing scandal.
