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BPL runs smoothly leaving behind criticism


Published : 08 Jan 2023 08:15 PM | Updated : 08 Jan 2023 08:15 PM

The ninth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League Cricket (BPL), the only franchise tournament has already passed over three days with great enthusiasm among the fans but will take time to reach on peak.   

There were huge controversies, criticism and chaos built up since the draft of the of the tournament in November 2022 with the failures of marketing, with the sponsorship, announcement that the tournament will be without DRS just five days ahead of the league kick off, number of venues and some other issues.

But throwing out all the pessimistic statements the most coveted cricket festival is going on smoothly with four matches have already been completed in the last two days with number of fans attended avoiding enormous chilly condition at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

It is also expected that after the Dhaka phase, Chottagram and Sylhet phase will see packed-up crowds.  

Despite controversies from different corners, even with the national team (Test and ODI), Shakib Al Hassan and prominent coach Salahuddin joining the critics, tournament is going on, it looked BCB is not care about all these lacking.   

However, in every previous edition of the BPL there were a huge gatherings of some of the big names of the world cricket,  most of the teams had star-studded squad which was great attractions of the tournament, as during most of the matches galleries used to full to the brim with the enthusiastic fans.

But this season, none of the teams has any of the celebrities or stars they could sign up, as almost all the star crickters are busy with their national duties or domestic competitions when Sri Lanka and Indian cricketers are playing T-20 series in India, Australian and some other star cricketers of the world are  engaged with the Big Bash (t-20) Cricket League, is going on in Australia.  

But any of the blackball could not prohibited the fans to go on into the stadium, might be the figures of crowd are not as it was previous seasons due to rough weather, an unusual chilly condition but it looked that this season also to be a thrilling and spectacle.

Meanwhile, by this time four matches have already been held on 6th and 7th January with Sylhet Strikers making a flying start outplaying Chattagram Challengers by eight wickets and Rangpur Riders also had an easy start with 34 runs win against Comilla Victorians.

Though the first two matches were one-sided encounters but rest of the two matches had some excitements when in a high scoring match on Saturday Sylhet Strikers won by six wickets.

The match had some excitement when the Fortune Barisal scored 194 runs after batting first, there was huge ups and downs of the match, though Sylhet Strikers finally won the match on January 7.

The day’s second match was also a bit excited when in the low scoring match Dhaka Diminators defeated Khulna Tigers by six wickets but they had to struggle to cross the 113 runs target, as they won the match just five balls to spare.

In all respect controversies are going on with lot of lacking with organising the biggest cricket extravaganza of country when some of the wickets are not good enough for the T-20 format.

Fans are talking about the venues, they think that as the tournament is taking place only in three venues - in Dhaka, Chattagram and Sylhet, rest of the cricket fans of other districts are deprived from to watch the most attractive cricket tournament from stadium.     

If the organisers would be more cautious and obligated could to get rid of all the lacking, as it was not impossible to increase the venues across the country.

One of the most important issues is wickets, when the experts think, as it is the main platform to have international standard performers, there should be ideal pitches for T-20 format.

As there were mostly talking about the players draft (should more earlier ), DSR issue and venues, the organisers could be more heedful to make the tournament a magnetic, as it was in the previous seasons.