ZCZC
BSP-08
CRICKET-BCB-QUARANTINE
BCB to seek special clearance for Tamim, Mahmudullah
DHAKA, Nov 3, 2020 (BSS)—The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will seek special clearance for Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad to reduce their quarantine period upon their return from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) so that they can take part in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
The Bangabandhu T20 Cup is set to start on November 22 or 23 as per latest development. If Tamim’s team Lahore Qalandars and Mahmudullah’s team Multan Sultans make it to the PSL final on November 17, they are expected to return to the country on November 18.
As per Government’s directive, people coming from abroad will have to stay mandatory quarantine for 14 days. But if this is applicable on the two players, they would miss the large part of the tournament which eventually forced BCB to seek special clearance from the Government, like they did for their foreign coaches.
“The Government has a set policy for those who come from abroad. We also have some standard practice, we did that practice in the last tournament,” BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said here today.
“We sought permission from the Government for our foreign coaches and other support staff so that they can have a shortened quarantine period. We will discuss with the concerned departments of the government whether such a protocol can be implemented for Tamim and Mahmudullah.”
Both Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal will go to Pakistan to play PSL play-off as the replacement of other players. While Tamim Iqbal replaced opener Chris Lynn, Mahmudullah is the replacement of English all-rounder Moeen Ali for Multan Sultans.
Mahmudullah’s Multan Sultans will play the first Qualifier against Karachi Kings on November 14 while Tamim’s Lahore Qalandars will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the Eliminator game on November 15.
Both Tamim and Mahmudullah are expected to be the Icon player in the five-team tournament Bangbandhu T20 Cup, for which the BCB is gearing up now.
BSS/SMP/AU/17:15 hrs