Dhaka, July 9 (IANS) The incomplete 2019-20 season of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), might resume at two specific places — Krira Shikhkha Protishthan (BKSP) and the stadia in Cox’s Bazar. The league was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After an online meeting between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and several Bangladeshi cricketers and the players’ association, the decision was taken but the authorities have not yet decided the time and roadmap for the resumption of domestic cricket.
Kazi Inam Ahmed, chairman of the cricket committee of the Dhaka Metropolis team, said during the meeting that there has been an attempt to ensure that the board, the clubs and the players remain “mentally prepared” to start the league in two-weeks’ notice, whenever that might be.
“Players want to get back to playing but the BCB has to decide after talking to different government bodies and agencies,” Ahmed told ESPNcricinfo. “We cannot mention a particular date because we haven’t reached that stage yet. But I want the clubs to be prepared for a two-weeks’ notice. The same goes for players and our facilities. We have to get things in order now, so that we can turn things around in a short time.”
During the meeting, which was also attended by senior national-team players Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury, board directors Naimur Rahman and Khaled Mahmud (who are also president and vice-president of the players’ association respectively), and several other stakeholders, Ahmed suggested that the facility at Bangladesh Krira Shikhkha Protishthan (BKSP) and the stadia in Cox’s Bazar be used, the ESPNcricinfo report says.
“I can totally have players and staffs in complete isolation (at BKSP and Cox’s Bazar),” he said. “I will be doing an internal assessment, because I want to make sure we have enough facilities in these two venues.”
BKSP is a sports institute situated in Savar, 40km from Dhaka, where three cricket grounds usually host first-class and DPL matches. It also has hostels for athletes and students and professional cricket teams.
The players’ association has requested the BCB to tell the Premier League clubs to pay each player half of their agreed salaries.
–IANS
dm/aak/bbh/