Premier Division Hockey League title remains undecided, with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation's (BHF) executive committee set to meet on Saturday at the Federation's meeting room. This highly anticipated meeting has garnered significant sporting interest.
Both Abahani and Mariners are tied on 37 points. While the bylaws dictate playoffs under certain circumstances, such a scenario appears highly unlikely. This has led discussions towards a potential joint title.
However, the situation for the traditional Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) is starkly different. Relations between the MSC and the BHF have deteriorated in recent days following the league's conclusion. The situation has become increasingly acrimonious, with the federation's disciplinary committee recommending various punishments for MSC Captain Jimmy, officials, and the club itself.
Conversely, the MSC has raised numerous allegations of irregularities against the federation, particularly aimed at General Secretary Mominul Haque Sayed. The Black & Whites have expressed their dissatisfaction with his conduct.
MSC policymakers have urged the sport's governing body to address these ongoing issues within hockey.
While the date and venue for the May 25th meeting have been confirmed, many committee members remain unaware of the agenda. Beyond the league title decision, discussions will likely encompass the upcoming Junior Asia Cup of Hockey. Both Bangladesh's men's and women's teams are also set to participate in the AHF Cup U-21 tournament in Singapore from June 14th. Preparation and participation for all these events require significant financial resources, causing concern among some within the federation.
The men's tournament will see 12 teams compete, divided into two groups (A and B) of six teams each. Bangladesh's group opponents are Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, and Cambodia. The top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals. Bangladesh's primary challenge in their quest for victory is expected to be Oman.
Unlike the men's format, the women's competition features a round-robin format. Seven teams will play each other once, and the team with the most points after six matches will be crowned champion. Alongside host Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka will join Bangladesh in the women's competition.
