Bangladesh Cricket Board ready for upcoming Bangabandhu T20

CNI Desk: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is confident about successfully hosting the upcoming Bangabandhu T20 tournament despite postponing it for more than a week.

BCB initially planned to host the T20 tournament from mid-November and BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon earlier announced November 15 as the tentative date for the tournament opener.

However, BCB now has decided to take some more time to organise the five-team T20 tournament and planning to start it by November 25.

BCB called for Expression of Interest (EOI) on October 27 from reputed business houses, companies, parties, agencies, consortiums and individuals for team’s sponsorship rights of the five participating teams of the tournament with the deadline ending on November 1.

BCB looks ready to take up the challenge of bringing back cricket on a larger scale after successfully organizing BCB President Cup, the first competitive cricket tournament in the country, since the coronavirus pandemic.

The three-team 50-over competition involving the top players of the country was considered to be a test-run before resuming domestic cricket on a larger scale.

BCB had earlier announced that Bangladesh Premier League will not be held this year, the country’s lone franchise-based T20 tournament, while they opted to launch the proposed domestic T20 competition as the second phase of their resumption plan.

BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said on Tuesday that they have got good responses from interested parties willing to take part in the competition and are now eyeing to finalise everything in the coming week.

“You all know we have already sent out advertisements seeking sponsors for the upcoming Bangabandhu T20 tournament and we are hopeful about close the deal very soon. We have got a good response and we are yet to take the final decision and the interested sponsors will get the confirmation from the board,” Nizamuddin told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital on Tuesday.

 

“We are trying to prepare the schedule along with the grounds and we are heading forward with an aim to start the tournament by November 22,” he said.

“I am not going to disclose the exact numbers but we will try to confirm the five sponsors and announced them shortly,” he said adding that this tournament is by no means a replacement of BPL, that was postponed this year due to pandemic.

“Look it’s a completely different tournament as you know we have taken a few steps considering the bio-bubble environment and this is part of our plan. As you know this is a step forward for us to return to international cricket. At first, we opened the training facilities and then allowed the individual training which was followed by small group practice and later the national team also practiced together targeting the Sri Lanka tour. As the Sri Lanka tour was scrapped, we arranged a three-team tournament and the five-team competition is part of that plan,” he said.

Nizamuddin added that if they can host the tournament successfully they will be better placed to resume international cricket at home hinting at the upcoming home series against West Indies.

West Indies are expected to visit Bangladesh in January to play two Tests along with three ODIs and as many Twenty20 internationals

“If we can successfully host the five-team tournament than that will be a huge achievement,” said Nizamuddin.

“Look, we organised the three-team tournament although it was challenging but we managed to host that successfully. Considering the viewership and other aspects, we did get the guideline on the challenges we are going to face in the coming days and we will be more experienced in the coming days. We will have the knowledge before taking decision to return to international cricket,” he said adding that whether they will allow crowds or not in the upcoming home series depends entirely on the government guidelines.

“We will follow the government directives and as there are a few health protocols so we will follow those and arrange the tournament. We are not considering the COVID -19 situation of other countries as we have to follow the instructions of the government,” he said.

However, BCB is looking at all available options before preparing the bio-bubble plan for the upcoming T20 tournament that is expected to be a dress rehearsal for the home series against West Indies.

BCB is evaluating bio-bubble plan of IPL, CPL and Big Bash along with plans that are in place in England and Pakistan for resuming domestic and international cricket.

Bangabandhu T20

BCB gears up for the challenge

Sports Correspondent

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is confident about successfully hosting the upcoming Bangabandhu T20 tournament despite postponing it for more than a week.

BCB initially planned to host the T20 tournament from mid-November and BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon earlier announced November 15 as the tentative date for the tournament opener.

However, BCB now has decided to take some more time to organise the five-team T20 tournament and planning to start it by November 25.

BCB called for Expression of Interest (EOI) on October 27 from reputed business houses, companies, parties, agencies, consortiums and individuals for team’s sponsorship rights of the five participating teams of the tournament with the deadline ending on November 1.

BCB looks ready to take up the challenge of bringing back cricket on a larger scale after successfully organizing BCB President Cup, the first competitive cricket tournament in the country, since the coronavirus pandemic.

The three-team 50-over competition involving the top players of the country was considered to be a test-run before resuming domestic cricket on a larger scale.

BCB had earlier announced that Bangladesh Premier League will not be held this year, the country’s lone franchise-based T20 tournament, while they opted to launch the proposed domestic T20 competition as the second phase of their resumption plan.

BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said on Tuesday that they have got good responses from interested parties willing to take part in the competition and are now eyeing to finalise everything in the coming week.

“You all know we have already sent out advertisements seeking sponsors for the upcoming Bangabandhu T20 tournament and we are hopeful about close the deal very soon. We have got a good response and we are yet to take the final decision and the interested sponsors will get the confirmation from the board,” Nizamuddin told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital on Tuesday.

“We are trying to prepare the schedule along with the grounds and we are heading forward with an aim to start the tournament by November 22,” he said.

“I am not going to disclose the exact numbers but we will try to confirm the five sponsors and announced them shortly,” he said adding that this tournament is by no means a replacement of BPL, that was postponed this year due to pandemic.

“Look it’s a completely different tournament as you know we have taken a few steps considering the bio-bubble environment and this is part of our plan. As you know this is a step forward for us to return to international cricket. At first, we opened the training facilities and then allowed the individual training which was followed by small group practice and later the national team also practiced together targeting the Sri Lanka tour. As the Sri Lanka tour was scrapped, we arranged a three-team tournament and the five-team competition is part of that plan,” he said.

Nizamuddin added that if they can host the tournament successfully they will be better placed to resume international cricket at home hinting at the upcoming home series against West Indies.

West Indies are expected to visit Bangladesh in January to play two Tests along with three ODIs and as many Twenty20 internationals

“If we can successfully host the five-team tournament than that will be a huge achievement,” said Nizamuddin.

“Look, we organised the three-team tournament although it was challenging but we managed to host that successfully. Considering the viewership and other aspects, we did get the guideline on the challenges we are going to face in the coming days and we will be more experienced in the coming days. We will have the knowledge before taking decision to return to international cricket,” he said adding that whether they will allow crowds or not in the upcoming home series depends entirely on the government guidelines.

“We will follow the government directives and as there are a few health protocols so we will follow those and arrange the tournament. We are not considering the COVID -19 situation of other countries as we have to follow the instructions of the government,” he said.

However, BCB is looking at all available options before preparing the bio-bubble plan for the upcoming T20 tournament that is expected to be a dress rehearsal for the home series against West Indies.

BCB is evaluating bio-bubble plan of IPL, CPL and Big Bash along with plans that are in place in England and Pakistan for resuming domestic and international cricket.