The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s late confirmation of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League has placed franchises in a difficult position, with teams left scrambling to assemble competitive squads under severe time constraints, reports the Daily Sun.
With the announcement coming barely three months before the tournament, franchises have effectively had less than two months to secure players, raising fears that the BPL could once again see an influx of lower-tier overseas recruits.
Franchise officials admit that the shortened window has made it extremely challenging to attract top international names, particularly as the global T20 calendar is already congested.
The problem has been compounded by overlaps with Australia’s Big Bash League and South Africa’s SA20, where most leading foreign players are already under contract. Although the absence of the Lanka Premier League initially raised hopes of greater Sri Lankan participation, those expectations have also been dampened.
A newly announced three-match T20I series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has further complicated recruitment plans.
The BPL is scheduled to begin on 26 December in Sylhet, while the bilateral series will start on 7 January in Dambulla. As a result, players from both Sri Lanka and Pakistan are expected to remain available for the BPL only until 4 January, forcing franchises to plan for mid-season exits.
Rajshahi Warriors are understood to be among the most affected, with at least four overseas players likely to leave midway through the tournament. While franchises continue to explore last-minute alternatives, concerns remain over whether suitable replacements can be secured.
With preparation time shrinking and player availability uncertain, franchise officials fear the quality and continuity of squads could be compromised once again, unless swift solutions are found in the coming weeks.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
