Mahmud opens up on DPL scheduling after players suffer intense heat

The searing heat is being felt all around the country. With the Dhaka Premier League taking place every year in March-April, cricketers suffer from the intense heat during the fifty over games and Abahani Limited coach Khaled Mahmud raised the issue today following his side's match at BKSP.

Mahmud presented his side of the argument, highlighting the players and officials' suffering after Abahani's five-wicket win over City Club.

"It's very difficult. No doubt it's very tough and I thank the boys and also the umpires who officiate in this heat.

Mahmud informed that players have been complaining about playing in this heat. "The boys were complaining repeatedly that 'Sir, it is too hot inside the ground'. But at the end of the day, we have to play in this heat.

"Every year for some reason, the premier league takes place in this window. This tournament is one of the best in Bangladesh cricket and personally I prioritise it over BPL as a competitive tournament. The matches aren't shown on TV but that's ok. The big sides have big budget still. It's a very important tournament and if it can begin before the hot weather, we can end it earlier before the heat comes. Ramadan is also ongoing and many can't fast and some also play while fasting. Everyone accepts these things as professionals but I feel this heat is very tough."

While there is no other window available for DPL, Mahmud called on the CCDM to focus on the whether anything can be done regarding the scheduling.

"You are playing three matches a week which isn't easy. I feel that if we try, then we can manage an empty window in the calendar to play matches in another time. It will be good since from this cricket our ODI team is selected and many cricketers' performance is important. We could focus on that and as a board director I know it's difficult to do but still we have to make plans to see if we can make space for it," he said.