BCB rules out inclusion of Rajshahi in BPL
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ruled out Rajshahis participation in the BPL-3, citing the reason that they are not in a position of increasing the number of teams at the moment. But the board ensured Rajshahi would be added in the fray in the next years BPL. The announcement of the board made it sure that this years BPL would be a six-team affair finally.
Rajshahi lobbied heavily to be the part of the new look BPL. The board apparently seemed to be sincere in including Rajshahi also but the logistic problem forced them to back out. Rajshahi was keen to take a franchise but at the moment it was not possible to include any team because the new inclusion meant we have to increase the number of the matches and timeframe of the tournament. It could affect the other domestic tournament also. So we have no other way, said BCB media and communications chairman Jalal Younus.
But from the next year, well include Rajshahi. We, some directors along with the members of BPL governing council sat with the board president in this regard and took this decision, he added. Younus further informed that the opening ceremony of the BPL will be held on November 20 instead of 22 while the opening match will be taken place on November 22 in lieu of 24.
The six franchisees of BPL now are Beximco Limited who got the ownership of Dhaka, DBL (Chittagong), Axiom Technologies (Barisal), Royal Sporting Limited (Comilla Victorians), I Sports (Rangpur) and Aleef Group (Sylhet).
