BCB shortens school cricket matches to 20-over games amid heatwave

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to reduce 50-over school cricket matches to T20 contests in the ongoing Prime Bank National School Cricket tournament amid severe heatwave in the country.

Bangladesh has been experiencing extreme weather conditions, with temperatures hovering over 40 degrees Celsius consistently for most part of April. According to meteorologists, this is the longest heatwave in the country's history. The conditions have adversely impacted cricket as a 50-over school tournament has been reduced to 20-over contests to prevent the players from overexhausting themselves.

"In consideration of the ongoing heatwave that has impacted the country, the age-group tournament committee of BCB has decided that starting from today, all remaining divisional round matches of the Prime Bank National School Cricket tournament will be played in Twenty20 format," an ESPNcricinfo report quoted BCB as saying in a statement.

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BCB's game development manager AEM Kawsar informed that 64 district teams are taking part in the competition, and it is being held at 14 venues across the country.

"We have instructed all match officials to complete the matches by 12.30 pm. We have even advised them to start the matches at 8.30 am if the teams agree. The usual start time is 9.00am. There will also be a drinks break every 40 minutes. We are providing enough ice, lemon juice and of course water. In some places where possible, we are providing ice-bath facilities. One good thing is that every venue has proper cooling facilities in the dressing rooms," Kawsar was quoted as saying in the report.

The tournament began in the early 1980s. Meanwhile, the Dhaka Premier League is continuing in the searing heat.

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Bangladesh government had instructed schools and colleges to remain closed until Thursday, May 2, with the temperature rising up to 45 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, including capital Dhaka. Several heat-related deaths have also been reported and many have been hospitalised thus far.