ZCZC
BSP-28
CRICKET-BPL-T20-PAPON
BCB president hits back at BPL T20 franchisees
DHAKA, August 17, 2019 (BSS) – The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon came down heavily on the BPL franchisees, saying that the cricket apex body never changes the rules of the cash-rich T20 tournament.
He rather claimed that it’s the franchisees that every season breaks the rules for which the BCB had to intervene.
Some of the BPL franchisees had recently blamed BCB for not being consistent in setting the rules and regulations of the tournament.
The franchisees basically lashed out at BCB after the board terminated the franchisees al l contracts with the players and asked them to renew the contract since there is rule of beginning new cycle after six years.
“Many franchisees complained about BPL’s rules and regulations alterations. They said, they won’t play if we change the rules every season. But when did we change the rules? In fact the franchises continuously broke the rules and we stopped them in doing so,” Papon said here on Saturday.
Recently before a policy of players’ retention announced, the franchisees started recruiting players. As part of that process, Shakib Al Hasan moved to Rangpur Riders from Dhaka Dynamites while Tamim Iqbal joined Khulna Titans from Comilla Victorians. Other players also changed the team, which angered BCB and they later announced all new contracts invalid.
“We have never changed the rules. They have broken it this time too. They are changing it, though there is the restriction of retention. But this can’t happen because it is not in the rule book. We just did not let them break the rule.
“Last time there was criticism about Steve Smith. We did not bring Smith, franchise signed him and other franchisees later complained about it. So we had to intervene,” Papon said.
“And the final where Comilla franchise said they would not play. If they are not interested to play, it’s not our problem. They claimed to be the winner, but we can’t announce like that. It’s not in the rule. Then, both the franchisees agreed to play the next day.”
The BCB president however informed that most of the franchisees started the process to renew the contract. The seventh edition of BPL is set to kick off on December 6.
BSS/SMP/SMM/1855 hrs