Foreign players quota in BPL may be increased

Fifth edition of BPL kicks off Nov 2

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains uncertain about the possibility of adding Sylhet as the new venue for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) alongside Dhaka and Chittagong even though they desperately want it. 

The main obstacle to announce Sylhet as the new venue is the lack of international standard hotel there. However as far as the outfield, main field and the design of the stadium is concerned Sylhet is dubbed as the best amongst all other stadiums in Bangladesh. 
“Sylhet is ready to hosts any type of international matches but the concern is that there is only international standard hotel in the city which can afford at best four or five teams at a time,” said BPL governing council member secretary I H Mallick yesterday when he addressed a press conference to let the people know about the ins and outs of the fifth edition of BPL. 
Governing Council chairman Afzalur Rahman Sinha, BCB director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan and CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury were present at that moment. 
The governing council is planning to organist the upcoming edition of BPL with eight teams as Sylhet is back to the fray with the previous name Sylhet Royals. 
“There is no hotel in the city to keep the players of the eight teams at a time. Yes there were some world class resorts outside of the city but by car the drive is 1.30 hours to the stadium. The ICC rule is that the stadium should be 45 minutes drive from the hotel.”
“But there is plan to hold the BPL here for at least two days with four or five teams. The broadcaster may complain about the short stay but we will try to make it happen.”
The governing council also remains undecided about the number of the participation of foreign players in every team. Normally in every domestic league around the world, there is limitation of playing maximum four overseas players in a team in a bid to give the chance to local players to show their talent. The BPL also followed the rules but this time it could see a number of five players. 
IH Mallick said that Bangladesh lacked young talent unlike the other countries which prompted them to consider five foreign players. 
“The franchisees also want five foreign players in the team. We also saw logic in it because if the number of team is eight in that case we have lack of enough talented local players in the pipeline. However it is in the consideration at the moment.”
The BPL however will start on November 2 following a gala opening ceremony in which famous artists from the country and abroad will take part. The players’ draft of the tournament will be held on September 16.
There will be an Icon and A Plus category in which a team could recruit four players. Besides a team could acquire maximum 10 foreign players and 13 local players from the draft. 
If the BPL is eight-team tournament this time, there will be total 60 matches. 

 

Foreign players quota in BPL may be increased

Fifth edition of BPL kicks off Nov 2

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains uncertain about the possibility of adding Sylhet as the new venue for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) alongside Dhaka and Chittagong even though they desperately want it. The main obstacle to announce Sylhet as the new venue is the lack of international standard hotel there. However as far as the outfield, main field and the design of the stadium is concerned Sylhet is dubbed as the best amongst all other stadiums in Bangladesh. Sylhet is ready to hosts any type of international matches but the concern is that there is only international standard hotel in the city which can afford at best four or five teams at a time, said BPL governing council member secretary I H Mallick yesterday when he addressed a press conference to let the people know about the ins and outs of the fifth edition of BPL. Governing Council chairman Afzalur Rahman Sinha, BCB director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan and CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury were present at that moment. The governing council is planning to organist the upcoming edition of BPL with eight teams as Sylhet is back to the fray with the previous name Sylhet Royals. There is no hotel in the city to keep the players of the eight teams at a time. Yes there were some world class resorts outside of the city but by car the drive is 1.30 hours to the stadium. The ICC rule is that the stadium should be 45 minutes drive from the hotel. But there is plan to hold the BPL here for at least two days with four or five teams. The broadcaster may complain about the short stay but we will try to make it happen. The governing council also remains undecided about the number of the participation of foreign players in every team. Normally in every domestic league around the world, there is limitation of playing maximum four overseas players in a team in a bid to give the chance to local players to show their talent. The BPL also followed the rules but this time it could see a number of five players. IH Mallick said that Bangladesh lacked young talent unlike the other countries which prompted them to consider five foreign players. The franchisees also want five foreign players in the team. We also saw logic in it because if the number of team is eight in that case we have lack of enough talented local players in the pipeline. However it is in the consideration at the moment. The BPL however will start on November 2 following a gala opening ceremony in which famous artists from the country and abroad will take part. The players draft of the tournament will be held on September 16. There will be an Icon and A Plus category in which a team could recruit four players. Besides a team could acquire maximum 10 foreign players and 13 local players from the draft. If the BPL is eight-team tournament this time, there will be total 60 matches.