Comilla question BPL rule alteration

Bangladesh Premier League T20 franchise Comilla Victorians have denied to acknowledge the BPL governing council’s decision to revamp the regulations of the tournament. 

The BPL GC earlier this month announced set fresh of rules as part of a new four-year cycle.

The BCB following the last edition of the BPL claimed the edition to be the best among all the six seasons. 

Based on the claimed fact, Comilla managing director Nafisa Kamal brushed off the BPL GC’s plan of overhauling a “successful model”.

Bangladesh Premier League T20 2017 champion @RangpurRiders_ have pressed for a “direct local player signing” along with two overseas signings for the forthcoming edition of the tournament.https://t.co/gcjhbofJ1o#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) August 20, 2019

“My question is why will I change the model if it has been claimed as the most successful one? Why not continue with it? Our BCB president [Nazmul Hasan] has said the BPL doesn’t have any change in rules so we want to honor his statement. We want continuity of a successful model,” said Nafisa following their meet with BPL GC at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday.

“It is being said there will be a new cycle but that doesn’t mean that the rules have to be changed. We can always have the old and core rules in new cycle and if needed, bring a few changes only,” the Victorians owner added.

The BCB president Nazmul during a press meet last week had said the BPL GC do not make changes to rules unless requested by the franchises. 

The recent BPL GC’s decision, to withdraw “local players’ retention policy” and name all in the players’ draft or auction and also deny from acknowledging “direct local players signing” had irked many in the cricket fraternity, along with the majority of the franchises. 

The Bangladesh Premier League Governing Council started series of meeting with the tournament franchises with the intention to clear disagreement and set rules for the next four seasons of the tournament.https://t.co/MgssCAl0jw

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) August 19, 2019

Eyebrows were raised in suspicion whether the change of rules in the tournament would benefit a team who don’t have the greatest of local players from the last edition for retention.

The current saga of differences between the BPL GC and majority of the franchises had emerged particularly after all-rounder Shakib al Hasan made a move from Dhaka Dynamites to a new franchise in Rangpur Riders.

“We [Comilla] had signed Mushfiqur [Rahim] in between the World Cup [2019]. Tamim [Iqbal] is said to have signed for Khulna [Titans] before the World Cup. Why did not it (BPL GC) make an issue then? We could have taken better preparation if we were informed back then. Now all of a sudden, just because of an issue they cannot change the total system,” said Nafisa.

Comilla, the two-time champion in the seasons 2015-16 and 2018-19, pressed on revenue sharing with the BPL GC. 

Bangladesh Premier League T20 Governing Council said it looks forward to reach common ground with the franchises and set the regulations of the tournament by mid September this year while the players’ draft will be held in mid of October.https://t.co/kAdJQ9VhQW

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) August 19, 2019

Comilla in the past four seasons have been one of the glamorous teams in the tournament, featuring top cricketers both from local and abroad. 

Despite the fact, Comilla have not been able to make break-even in any of the season as far as earning is concerned, claimed Nafisa.

“This was our first point in the meeting. I have been a team owner in BPL for the last seven seasons, but have not been able to reach break-even. It [BPL T20] is a loss project for all of us and I am honestly thinking if I should remain in BPL next year,” said Nafisa.

“It is only BCB that is being benefitted from the tournament and of course we would like to be a part of it. We [franchises] are big stakeholders in the tournament and so it has totally been one-sided. We are not earning anything but spending only,” said the Comilla MD.