PCB does now allow its players to take part in BPL 2013

The second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is going to kick off on January 18 without the participation of the Pakistani cricketers. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not allow its players to take part in the Twenty20 competition.

The decision of not releasing any of their players for the BPL 2013 was not well accepted by the cricketers who rarely get an opportunity to play in the similar kind of tournaments. It would help them not only earn money but also get international recognition as players.

The PCB barred its players from taking part in the tournament after Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cancelled the Pakistan tour mentioning the lack of security for its players in Pakistan.

For the second edition of the tournament, more than 50 players took part in the players’ auction. Out of which only twenty-six Pakistani players were bought by seven franchises. Now, they will be replaced by other foreign players.

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh were supposed to play a bilateral series including a Twenty20 game and a 50-over match in Lahore this month. If Pakistan could host the two-nation cricket series then it would be their first home internationals since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus nearly four years ago.

The spokesman of BCB, Jalal Yunus, told AFP that PCB would not allow their players to play in the BPL until BCB send its team to their country.

Among the Pakistani players, Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi were the highest sold players after being sold for $280,000 and $275,000 respectively.

Pakistani cricketers may not play in the BPL 2013

The participation of the Pakistani cricketers in the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is facing uncertainty. It is thought that they may not get permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play in this tournament.

The decision of barring Pakistani cricketers from playing the BPL 2013 has come after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had cancelled the Pakistan tour. PCB said Pakistani players could be barred from participating in BPL.

There is obviously a big reason for postponing the Pakistan tour. The BCB members had expressed their concern over security situation in Pakistan. They insisted that conditions had not improved. This decision put Pakistan’s home series against Bangladesh on hold.

Since 2009 after terrorists attacked on Sri Lanka cricket team’s bus, no cricket playing nation toured Pakistan. That is why, they organized their home series in neutral venue which ranged from Dubai to London.  

However, PCB is yet to give No Objection Certificate (NOCs) to players and until getting any clearance from cricket board players cannot play in the T20 league.

Pakistani players who were bought at the player auction of the second edition of the BPL on December 20 are Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Sami.

Barisal Burners and Sylhet Royals have signed the two-party agreement

At last Barisal Burners and Sylhet Royals have signed the two-party agreement with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Governing Council at the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) headquarters in Mirpur. These two franchises were left to sign the agreement in the ceremony held in Mirpur.

Other five franchises who have signed the two-party agreement earlier after a long meeting between the franchises and the BPL governing council are Dhaka Gladiators, Chittagong Kings, Rangpur Riders, Khulna Royal Bengals and Duronto Rajshahi.

It seems that the tournament organizers are trying to complete all the formalities before the second edition of the tournament that may start on January 17. However, the cash-rich cricket tournament cannot come out of payment related issue that had been attached with them as stigma. They are still being haunted by the nonpayment of the players from the first edition.

Top local players like Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain have expressed their doubt about the payment. These two players who were bought by Duronto Rajshahi and Khulna Royal Bengal respectively last season claimed that they were not paid their wages in full as the icon player.

It is not sure what steps will be taken by BPL Governing Council. It is time to see how long this matter will go on.  

Kieron Pollard removes his name from BPL auction

The West Indian all-round, Kieron Pollard, along with eight other foreign players had removed his name from the Bangladesh Premier League auction that was held on December 20 in Dhaka.

After the withdrawal of nine foreign players, the BPL governing council had added two new foreign players to the auction- West Indian batsman Marlon Samuels, and Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, as compensation.

In the inaugural season of the BPL, he was bought by Dhaka Gladiators which finished the tournament being the champion. He was included in the golden category this year and was slated to receive a salary between $75,000 and $150,000.

England batsman Michael Lumb, who was included in category A, also pulled his name out. The name of the other withdrawn players were Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe), Cameron Merchant (New Zealand), James Taylor and Ed Young (England), Michael Smith (South Africa), Fawad Alam (Pakistan) and Chesney Hughes (West Indies).

Players who were added in category A were Pakistan seamer Yasir Arafat, Netherlands all-rounder Ryan Ten Doeschate and England all-rounder Peter Trego. In category B, Aaron O'Brian (Australia) and Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) made their late entries. Other two players were Jacob Oram and Nathan McCullum from New Zealand.

Players in the category C were Adnan Raza (Pakistan), Carlton Baugh (West Indies), Chris Schofield (England), Sean Ervine (Zimbabwe), Kaushal Lokuarachchi (Sri Lanka) and Taijul Islam (Bangladesh).

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2012: Live on different TV Channels

The first season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) kicked off yesterday (10 February 2012) with six franchises consisting of players from around the world. The opening match took place between Barisal Burners and Sylhet Royals while the second match was played between Chittagong Kings and Duronto Rajshahi.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2012 has caught the attention of millions of people not only in Bangladesh but also other people around the world.

Fans are now excited to see the domestic Twenty20 tournament live on TV. People from different corners of the world are searching on net to get the list of TV channels where they can enjoy the match live.

Asian sports network ESPN-Star Sports has got the right to broadcast this tournament live across Asia for a period of three years, starting 2012 running through to 2014.

For Bangladeshi people, Channel 9 will broadcast the tournament.

Both Star Cricket and Star Sports will broadcast the matches live.

Barisal Burners beats Sylhet Royals by 10-wicket in the opening BPL match

In the opening game of the Bangladesh Premier League, Barisal Burners has defeated Sylhet Royals by 10-wicket at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka.

Winning the toss, Barisal Burners chose to field first. After coming to bat, Sylhet Royals scored a competitive total of 165 for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted over.

However, they were put under pressure after losing two wickets early on 52. Then, Captain Peter Trego made 105-run partnership with Alok Kapali. Their partnership helped their team to reach a decent total from a slugging start. Trego scored 62 while Alok Kapali scored 56 runs.

For Barisal Burners, Yasir Arafat took two wickets and other two wickets were taken by Shane Harwood and Suhrawadi Shuvo.

Barisal Burners needed 166 runs to win the match and it seemed like a competitive one. But thanks to opening pair Chris Gayle and Ahmed Shehzad, it became easier. Their partnership leads the team towards victory in 13.1 overs.

Chris Gayle scored 101 off 44 balls including 10 sixes and seven fours. It was his sixth Twenty20 century. He was accompanied by Ahmed Shehzad who scored unbeaten 56 from 35 balls with nine fours and a six.

Sylhet Royals bowlers found it tough to bowl against them. They were unable to pick these two wickets and snatch victory.