Kings Arena to host its first BPL match under floodlights Friday

Bashundhara Kings Arena will host its first Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match under floodlights when Bashundhara Kings take on Mohammedan Sporting Club in their 18th match of the ongoing 2022-2023 edition on Thursday.

The match will begin at 5:00 pm.

Earlier, Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hassan inaugurated the floodlights of the ground on May 19.

Kings confirmed their BPL title for the fourth time in a row after they beat Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra by 6-4 goals in their last game at the same venue last week.

Kings became the first club to achieve this feat in the 75-year history of domestic football in Bangladesh since its beginning in 1948 during the regime of Pakistan one year after the partition.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan also ended a nine-year title drought by winning the 34th Bashundhara Group Federation Cup 2022-23 on Tuesday. The traditional black and whites beat arch-rivals Dhaka Abahani Limited in the tie-breaker in Cumilla.

Mohammedan earlier beat Kings by a 2-1 margin in the semifinal of the Federation Cup.

“Champions (BPL) will meet the champions (Fed Cup). But we don’t want to give any points to them. We want to prove that we are the best side,” Kings’ head of strategy and planning Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu said on Thursday, reports Daily Sun.

Mohammedan head coach Alfaz Ahmed vowed to give his best in the match.

“There are a lot of changes in the squad. But we are expecting to give our best against the Kings,” Alfaz said.

Meanwhile, in the day’s other matches, Dhaka Abahani will play against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in Cumilla while Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra will meet Azampur Football Club Uttara in Mymensingh. Both matches will start at 04:00pm (BST).

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul