Various changes in the Bangladesh Domestic cricket has meant that the Dhaka Premier League, an important domestic ODI league for players across Bangladesh would return to the folds this year, but not in 50 overs format.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) have mutually decided that with the T20 World Cup approaching, it would be better to give the players a much-needed practice before the showpiece event in India this October.
While the DPL would be played in May this year, the Bangladesh Premier League’s 8th edition has been deferred to 2022 and the franchise could not have the full-time availability of all Bangladesh Internationals.
'Naturally, it will help (playing DPL in the shortest format) ahead of the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup as we feel it will benefit us in preparing our cricketers for the global event,'' Cricbuzz quoted Kazi Inam Ahmed, chairman of CCDM as saying.
“we will be holding the league from May 6. It will be in the T20 format as a continuation from last season, so we are abandoning the single round that was held last year,” he added.
The salaries of the players participating in DPL would be reduced as the clubs are also finding it difficult to sustain themselves in the pandemic. Mr Inam further clarified that it was the players’ interest that forced him to start the league as soon as possible.
''Players told me that they are desperate to return to competitive cricket, even if their payments get reduced. So we are doing this league for the players' sake. Clubs have had financial difficulties too so we will make a decision about player payments after discussing the matter with the board president,'' he said.
Talking about the postponement of the BPL, the next edition would be staged from January 14 to February 18, 2022, while the ninth edition would be held from January 3 to February 17, 2023.