Bangladesh cricket is again facing trouble at the domestic level. The game has struggled with disputes for years. Experts and the media have often asked for strong reform. This season has begun with fresh concern.
The new league is set to start on Sunday. Four of the five opening day matches may end without play. Several clubs may skip their games. They are unhappy with alleged problems in the recent Bangladesh Cricket Board elections.
The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis announced the fixtures on Thursday. All 20 clubs were included in the list. Still, many teams are not ready to play. Eight clubs stayed away from the players’ transfer window last month.
Only one match is likely to start on time. Bangladesh Police Cricket Club will play Old DOHS Sports Club. The match will be held at the Sher e Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Opening day matches usually follow a set format. Relegated Premier League teams face promoted First Division sides. This match does not follow that rule. A CCDM official said the aim was to ensure at least one match takes place.
Old DOHS decided to play despite earlier protests. Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is a councillor of the club. Old DOHS was among 45 clubs that had raised objections to the election process.
The league has already faced several delays. Officials say there will be no more changes. A CCDM official said the league will start as planned. Any team that does not appear will lose by walkover. The opposing side will get full points.
Teams that skip matches will face direct relegation. There will be no relegation league at the end. Officials said all 20 clubs were kept in the fixtures to avoid exclusion.
Partex Sporting Club is set to face Baridhara Dazzlers on Sunday at BKSP. Partex is unlikely to take the field. The club said it had no issue with playing at first. It now feels the situation is not right.
Partex said playing makes little sense if many teams stay away. The club also said it has no complaint about the BCB elections. It also objected to starting the season with the First Division. Partex believes the season should begin with the Third Division.
The impact of the last BCB elections remains clear. Those divisions continue to shape events. Bangladesh’s domestic structure now faces another shaky start.
