BPL 2019 could be devoid of overseas cricketers

The sixth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is scheduled to start on January 5, 2019. The Rangpur Riders, who beat the Dhaka Dynamites by 57 runs in the final last year in Dhaka, are the defending champions. Previously, the tournament was set to start on October 1, 2018, and end on November 16, 2018. However, the same was postponed to the next year.

The General Elections in the country is set to take place in the last week of December and bearing in mind the security concerns during that period, the event was rescheduled. Jalal Younus, BPL’s technical committee chairman, mentioned that they wished to organise the league from January 5 to February 8. In the meantime, the event can be marred by another development.

No big names in next year’s BPL?

During January, most of the international teams except Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland will have a busy calendar. Hence, the participation of prominent names from other nations remains to be under the clouds. It will also clash with other T20 domestic tournaments like that of Australia’s Big Bash League and New Zealand’s Super Smash T20 as per reports in bdcrictime.com.

Players like Rashid Khan, the Afghan leg-spinner, may opt for the BBL during that time. Jofra Archer, who played for the Khulna Titans last year, may also miss out. Australia will play their home series against India and therefore T20 specialists like Chris Lynn could be missing out. Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka will also have international assignments during the time.

Back in 2017, BPL allowed five foreign players in the eleven. Nevertheless, it has been reduced to four players from last season onwards. It will also mean that more Bangladeshi domestic players have the opportunity to take part in the event. Seven teams will take part in next year’s event and a franchise can retain four players from the previous season.

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