2019-20 Bangladesh Premier League logo and teams unveiled

Sport360 staff 09:53 17/11/2019
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  • Image - BCB/ Twitter

    With seven new teams and a brand new logo, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the next edition of the Bangladesh Premier League.

    During the unveiling of the logo at a ceremony, the names of the teams were also announced on Saturday. The participating teams are – Jamuna Bank Dhaka Platoon, Premier Bank Khulna Tigers, Rajshahi Royals, Rangpur Rangers, Sylhet Thunder, Cumilla Warriors and Chattogram Challengers.

    Of the seven, two teams – Comilla Warriors and Sylhet Thunders, were unable to land any sponsors.

    Much to the displeasure of the local players, the BCB decided to host the tournament all by themselves after differences cropped up between the board and the franchises that owned the teams in the previous six seasons.

    “We have said it earlier that we are going to do it [special edition of BPL] on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” BCB president Nazmul Hasan told reporters at the ceremony.

    “We are not going to arrange it as a franchise-based competition, rather BCB will arrange the tournament. We will look for a sponsor for every team and if we get, then we can take them as sponsor. But all the teams belong to BCB. That is the main thing.”

    On November 17, a players’ draft event will be held in Dhaka for the teams to choose their players. A total of 181 Bangladesh players and 439 overseas players have registered for the players’ draft. Based on player salary as decided by the board, the local players are categorized in six different categories: Grade A+, A, B, C, D and E for the draft.

    AB de Villiers, Steve Smith and David Warner are some of the international stars who will not be returning to the BPL this year.

    “We all know that the countdown of Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary is starting from December 8 as the government declared it. Our Prime Minister will inaugurate this BPL on the first day of the countdown. I think it’s necessary and we are grateful to have such an opportunity.”

    “The countdown will start with Bangabandhu BPL. That’s why we are saying this is most important.”

    After star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was banned by ICC for failing to report corrupt approaches, the BCB is supposedly leaving no stone unturned to prevent such instances in the upcoming tournament. A member of the ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit has been exclusively appointed for this tournament.

    “What we are doing is one anti-corruption unit person is assigned with every team and we have already taken that decision because I would say we had bad memories in the past,” said Nazmul. “There is nothing to say about it. We want to be informed at the earliest if anything happens like that.”

    The tournament will get underway on December 11.

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