No opening ceremony for BPL season 5

The fifth edition of the much awaited Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) which was scheduled to start on November 2, will now initiate on November 3, without an opening ceremony. On Wednesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated that the opening ceremony of the T20 league is cancelled in order to donate the funds allocated for the purpose to flood victims. More than a third of the country was submerged, in the latest flood attacks in the sub-continent nation, and the disaster is thought to be the most severe in 100 years.

Earlier, the fifth edition of the domestic T20 tournament was scheduled to kick-off with an entertaining opening ceremony, staring Bollywood singer Arijit Singh and many other local celebrities. But after the huge damages of the severe flood, the board has decided to cancel the introduction ceremony and provide their support to the country by raising funds and donate it to the flood-affected people.

Recently the warm-up game between the visiting Australian team and the BCB XI was also cancelled, due to excessive water logging which was worsened by the heavy rain.

“We all know the dire straits the country is in because of the floods. Keeping that in mind we don’t think it will be right to hold an opening ceremony, which is why we have decided to donate the money we would have spent on an opening ceremony to the flood victims,” said Afzalur Rahman Sinha, who is the BPL governing council chairman, as quoted by the Daily Star.

“Next Friday, the BCB president [Nazmul Hassan] and some other board officials will visit Sirajganj to distribute relief to the victims there,” Sinha added.

Barisal Bulls no more part of BPL 5

Earlier, the Bangladesh Premier League’s chairman made a shocking revelation that Barisal Bulls won’t take any part in this year’s tournament. It was further revealed that as the franchise was not able to meet the financial conditions introduced by the BPL Council, the Bulls would not be a part of the fifth edition of the tournament. In all probability, the tournament is expected to feature 7 teams that will compete amongst them, including the new franchise, Sylhet Surma Sixers.