.The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchises are hopeful that the services of the Pakistani players will be available till February 8 or 9 despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asking them to return home by February 2 in order to make themselves available for the upcoming Pakistan Super League, scheduled from February 13.
Cricbuzz understands that the PCB had already asked their players to inform to their respective BPL franchises that they will not be available after February 2 as they need to report to their respective PSL franchises.
A top official of Bangladesh Cricket Board, on request of anonymity, confirmed the development to Cricbuzz. "The Pakistan Cricket Board have an agreement with the PSL franchises where it is stated that the players will be available in their respective camps 15 days before the tournament and if that is taken into consideration, they should have left earlier but due to the relationship with the two boards, PCB allowed their cricketers to stay in BPL and return on February 2."
The official added that it the matter of the player availability now needs to be sorted out between the PSL franchises are their respective players.
BPL franchises were struggling to sign overseas T20 stars for the ongoing edition of the tournament as the dates were clashing with Australia's Big Bash League along with UAE's ILT20 and SA20. The availability of Pakistan players in the BPL, which came as a huge boost for the league, was possible after the PCB cancelled the T20I series versus West Indies.
The BPL franchises formed their teams with the Pakistan cricketers thinking they will be available till February 8 or 9 as per their agreement before the PCB summoned them to return by February 2.
Mohammed Salahuddin, Comilla Victorians' head coach, told Cricbuzz that they are hopeful that their foreign cricketers will stay beyond February 2 as the overseas cricketers are contacting their respective PSL franchises to allow them to complete their assignment at the BPL.
"Their franchises have asked them to return by February 2 but they are trying to stay here till February 8. We cannot do anything apart from asking them (Pakistani cricketers) to talk with their board and franchises and stay here for a longer period of time and they are saying they are doing their best to convince them," said Salahuddin.
Rangpur Riders' executive director, Shanian Taneem, said their Pakistani players are all set to get permission from their franchises to stay till February 9. "We knew they might have to leave on February 2 but I don't think they will go as they are taking permission from their (PSL) franchises and will stay here till February 9," said Shanian.
