BCB set to stage four-day BCL before Pakistan Tests

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is planning to stage the four-day version of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) in mid-April as part of preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan.

Bangladesh are scheduled to host Pakistan in May in a series that forms part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. With the Tigers not having played a Test since November, the board is keen to provide adequate red-ball match practice to its national cricketers.

“We have a plan to hold the tournament before the Test series. It’s needed for Test preparation and we want to stage it in mid-April,” BCB tournament committee manager AEM Kawser told The Daily Star on Tuesday.

“We want the national team players to feature in at least two rounds. In their absence, potential newcomers will play in the final round,” he added, noting that the board is eyeing six matches in the four-day competition without a final.

The one-day version of the BCL concluded on Tuesday, with North Zone taking on Central Zone in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) and the Dhaka Women’s Premier Division Cricket League.

A Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) official said both tournaments may struggle to begin as scheduled in March due to protests from several top-tier clubs unwilling to participate under the current board.

According to the official, nine of the 12 men’s DPL teams and four of the 10 women’s teams — including traditional powerhouses Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club — have so far shown no interest in taking part.

“Our management is yet to make a final decision. It remains a deadlock. We don’t have any work schedule before Eid. There is some chance of progress after Eid-ul-Fitr,” the official said.