Sylhet Strikers won the toss and opted to bowl first against Chattogram Challengers in the opening match of the ninth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.
According to the original schedule of BPL 2023, the day matches on Fridays were supposed to begin at 2:30pm. On the other days of the week, the first match would start at 2:00pm.
However at 12:30pm on Friday, BCB sent out a press release, announcing they have changed the schedule and the day game on Fridays will also begin on 2:00pm.
Chattogram, led by Shuvagata Hom, picked former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand in their playing XI, making him the first Indian to play a match at BPL.
Sylhet, on the other hand, have named experienced Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim and Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir in their XI.
Chattogram Challengers: Mehedi Maroof, Darwish Rasool, Al-Amin Jr, Afif Hossain, Usman Khan, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Malinda Pushpakumara, Shuvagata Hom (c), Unmukt Chand, Nihaduzzaman, Mehedi Hasan Rana
Sylhet Strikers: Colin Ackermann, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Akbar Ali, Thisara Perera, Imad Wasim, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mohammad Amir, Rejaur Rahman