BCB confident of hosting BPL on time despite political unrest
A Bangladesh Cricket Board official said on Friday that they remain confident of hosting the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the country's only franchise-based T20 tournament, on time despite doubts raised amid the volatile political situation in the country.
The BPL Governing Council had earlier announced that the tournament would begin on December 26 in Sylhet, following an opening ceremony scheduled to be held in Dhaka on December 24. However, the board later decided to postpone the opening ceremony due to security concerns. Those concerns intensified on Friday night after law enforcement agencies were forced to intervene following attacks on two leading national newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
Angry protesters set fire to the offices of Bangladesh's two most prominent newspapers late Thursday following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key activist linked to last year's political uprising.
The government on Friday urged citizens to remain calm and act responsibly amid the current situation.
"The government urges all citizens of Bangladesh to resist all forms of mob violence committed by a few fringe elements. We strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson and destruction of property," the government said in a statement.
"This is a critical moment in our nation's history as we undergo a historic democratic transition. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those who thrive on chaos and reject peace," it added.
The statement also addressed journalists directly. "To the journalists of The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and New Age: we stand with you. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself, and we promise full justice."
The announcement came hours after protests over Hadi's killing gathered momentum across the country.
Despite the uncertainty, BPL Governing Council member secretary Shakhawat Hossain said there were no doubts over the tournament starting on time in Sylhet.
"No doubt at the moment regarding the BPL. Inshallah, it will start from the 26th, though the opening ceremony will not be held," Shakhawat told Cricbuzz on Friday.
"We are in continuous discussion with the agencies. They have said there is no problem. Everything is ready, including the grounds, to host the tournament," he added.
Atik Fahad, Dhaka Capital chief executive, echoed similar confidence, while adding that any deferral would cause major issues for franchises that have already made logistical arrangements.
"So far we are not fearing a postponement. We are confident, even though some management-related issues might create a bit of doubt," Fahad told Cricbuzz. "We will begin our practice from the 21st. Everything is ready from our side, from foreign tickets to ground logistics."
