BPL may be delayed for general elections

The 11th parliamentary polls due later this year may result in a postponement of the 2018-19 season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The T20 tournament is scheduled to begin in October.

The election commission is likely to announce schedule for general elections in October as well.

Member secretary of the BPL's governing council Ismail Haider Mallick was quoted as saying on Wednesday that providing security would be challenging, as most of the country's forces would be busy at the time.

The BPL may be held in January next year, the report said.

"Just before the election, it would be tough to provide security to the seven teams in three venues," Mallick told Prothom Alo. "If we don't get sufficient security, we will have to hold the tournament after the elections. We can arrange it in January."

Some of the BPL team owners will be directly involved in the elections.

Owners of Khulna Titans, Rajshahi Kings, Sylhet Sixers and Comilla Victorians are members of parliament or ministers in the current government.

However, Mallick reportedly said that team's security is more important to them.

A delayed BPL may affect Bangladesh's international calendar, with Zimbabwe scheduled to tour the country for three Tests and three ODIs in January.