Another change has been made to the BPL schedule, with no matches from this season set to take place in Chattogram.
The schedule has been revised once again. This time, it is not just the dates that have changed, but the venue as well. Chattogram will no longer host any games this season. All matches originally planned for the Chattogram phase will now be held in Sylhet.
Earlier, the BPL schedule had already been adjusted twice following the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. To finish the tournament on the previously set dates, changes were made to both venues and match timings, and the remaining fixtures were announced again on Wednesday afternoon.
Khaleda Zia passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka early Tuesday at 6 AM. Following her death, the BCB postponed two scheduled matches that day. Initially, it was announced that the two postponed matches would take place on Wednesday. However, after the declaration of three days of national mourning and a public holiday on Wednesday, the schedule was revised once more. It was then stated that the two postponed matches from Tuesday would be played on Sunday, while the schedule for the remaining Sylhet matches would remain unchanged.
At that time, it was already clear that the Chattogram phase would undergo further changes. Ultimately, the BCB decided to move all Chattogram matches. The Sylhet leg, which was initially set to conclude on Sunday, will now continue until January 12.
Iftikhar Rahman, Secretary of the BPL Governing Council, explained that the decision considered team travel, logistics, and broadcast equipment management. Additionally, the upcoming T20 World Cup was also taken into account by both the BCB and the BPL Governing Council.
According to the previous schedule, the BPL final was set for January 23. Holding matches in Chattogram would have delayed the final by at least two days. However, as the Bangladesh team is set to participate in the T20 World Cup immediately after the BPL, the final will remain on January 23 under the new schedule. The lost time affects only the Chattogram phase.
Matches in the Dhaka phase will begin as originally planned on January 15.
