The Independence Cup will be held during the month of December and the tournament is likely to get underway from November 30, confirmed the football federation through a professional league committee meeting at BFF House Sunday
The Bangladesh Premier League season 2018-19, that was previously scheduled to commence on November 30, has been deferred by a month and rescheduled to kick off in the first week of January next year due to the 11th general election, slated for December 30.
The Independence Cup will be held instead during the month of December and the tournament is likely to get underway from November 30, confirmed the football federation through a professional league committee meeting at BFF House Sunday.
“The Independence Cup may start from November 30 instead of Bangladesh Premier League, which will be held after the general election,” said the professional league committee chairman Abdus Salam Murshedy.
The BFF senior vice-president added, “We earlier planned to hold four rounds of league matches before the election but we have to change the decision due to some circumstances. We took the decision after discussions with the participating clubs.”
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— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 9, 2018
The primary date for the kick-off of the premier league was revealed before the date of the national polls was confirmed last week.
This time the league will be held at six different venues outside the capital.
It was learnt that some of the venues including Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium will not be ready to host matches if the schedule remains unchanged.
It was also learned that concerns over providing security in those venues before and during the election was also one of the reasons that compelled the BFF to change the itinerary.
Murshedy informed that further decisions over the new schedule of the premier league, along with the confirmations on the venues, will be discussed during their next meeting in the first week of December.
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— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 10, 2018
The former national football star also said the Independence Cup will conclude before the polls with the final likely to be held at a date between December 20 and 22.
The draw of the tournament will take place this week.
Independence Cup usually has been taking place after the end of the premier league, giving it the unofficial title of the season-ending tournament.
The last edition of the tournament was held in January-February this year when Arambagh Krira Sangha became champion.
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