The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed concern over the availability of foreign players for the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), citing a possible scheduling conflict with the UAE-based International League T20 (ILT20).
Speaking during the National Cricket League (NCL) T20 final in Sylhet, BCB vice-president Faruque Ahmed highlighted the challenges the board is facing in securing top overseas talent. “We have to talk about foreign players. BCB is trying. Our biggest problem will be if the ILT20, which is held in Dubai, clashes with our schedule. As you know, they allow nine foreign players per team. If we can avoid a clash with that tournament, we’ll be able to get more foreign players,” he said.
Another setback comes from Pakistan, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for its players to participate in foreign leagues, including the BPL. Faruque acknowledged that this may affect several teams but remained hopeful that players from other countries could step in. “There’s an issue with NOCs for Pakistani players. I know a few teams are affected by this. I’m not sure exactly when Sri Lanka’s players will be available. But this is definitely a concern. Still, I think if there’s no schedule clash with the ILT20, that gap can be filled. Although Pakistani players have historically dominated our league, players from other countries might be able to make up for that,” he added.
While the BCB continues its preparations for the tournament, the uncertainty surrounding player availability remains a pressing issue, especially with foreign franchises not being allowed to participate this year.
