The Bangladesh Premier League governing council has decided not to hold any matches of the ongoing season in Chattogram, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo. The decision came after they had to postpone
the ongoing BPL for two days after the death of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Zia, the three-time prime minister and a towering political figure, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.
Sylhet will continue to host BPL games until January 12, after which Dhaka will stage three more match days, before hosting the playoffs and the final on January 23.
BPL member secretary Iftekhar Rahman said that the decision to drop Chattogram was taken because of two factors: the loss of two days in Sylhet, which left the organisers needing extra time to shift broadcast equipment to Chattogram and the need to factor in Bangladesh cricketers’ preparation for the T20 World Cup, which starts soon after the BPL ends.
“There was no gap in our fixtures. Moving from Sylhet to Chattogram, especially with the broadcast equipment needing to the shifted between the two cities, will need at least two days,” Rahman said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.
“Given that we had to postpone the matches on Monday and Tuesday, we could not move to Chattogram. I know it is disappointing for Chattogram, but if we started the tournament in Chattogram, Sylhet would have missed out,” Rahman added.
This season’s BPL has already been hit by several setbacks. Chattogram Royals’ owner relinquished the team a day before the tournament started on December 26, while Noakhali Express coach Khaled Mahmud later staged a walkout over inadequate practice facilities.
The league was also rocked by tragedy when Dhaka Capitals assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki passed away just minutes before their game against the Rajshahi Warriors.
The last match of the BPL was held on Monday and the tournament will resume on Thursday, with Sylhet Titans taking on the Dhaka Capitals.
