BPL 2017 to start from November 4

The money-spinning Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the most popular and prestigious franchise-based domestic cricket league of Bangladesh, is all set to return for its fifth edition on November 4 this year, its governing council announced on Thursday in a media conference.

BPL governing council also confirmed the players’ draft of the upcoming edition of BPL Twenty20 which will get underway on September 16 while the tournament committee promises to continue a glitzy opening ceremony featuring Dhallywood and Bollywood stars which is likely to be held on November 2.

The tournament will seea total eight teams including the return of Sylhet Royals owned by Sylhet Sports Limited (SSL) where Finance Minister AM Abdul Muhith will be with Sylhet as the chief patron.

On the other hand, Rangpur Riders will start its fresh journey in the forthcoming BPL season under the care of country’s leading industrial and business conglomerate – the Bashundhara Group.

Vice-Chairman of the Bashundhara Group and the President of the Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited Safwan Sobhan Tasvir already took over the ‘Sohana Sports Limited’ as the Managing Director.

Sohana Sports Limited runs the ‘Rangpur Riders’ franchise in BPL tournament.

“Presently eight teams registered to play the ensuing BPL but the number of participating teams may be reduced if any aspirant team fails to submit its financial solvency and required documents,” BPL governing council member secretary Ismail Haider Mallick said.

“If we get eight teams finally in BPL then they tournament will comprise total 60 matches,” he added.

Sylhet International Cricket Stadiumhave been added to the list of BPL venues for this season's Bangladesh Premier League.
Mirpur and Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong has been the automatic choice as BPL venues.

“Sylhet stadium is now ready to host international cricket matches.
But security alongside transportation, players’ accommodation are the basic priority. So we have to ensure all the facilities first because BPL is an international standard T20 tournament. So in this context, there is some problem in Sylhet to host BPL matches including less hotel facility. We found lone quality hotel near the Sylhet cricket stadium and we can ensure only four teams to stay there. And that is why we will rethink about Sylhet venue before starting the tournament. Primarily we are planning to shift BPL matches in Sylhet for three or four days,” Mallick said.

Each franchise will be able to pick total four players from Icon and A+ category through the well-known draft system. The teams can pick highest 13 local cricketers.

Note that, each team can take unlimited foreign players but they have to pick two players from the foreign category in draft.

In the last BPL, four foreign cricketers were entitled to play for a team in a match out of eleven, but the organisers are actively considering increasing the foreign players' quota to five from four this time.

“Franchises applied us to play five overseas cricketers per match. You know there are a number of talented cricketers in Bangladesh but very fewer among them for BPL standard tournament. That’s why the franchises are interested to increase the foreign players. BPL is a quality T20 tournament and we are aiming to keep its standard level. We are also thinking about the franchises’ appeal. We can change the decision if necessary,” Mallick concluded.