Players-by-choice draft for Dhaka Premier League

The Dhaka Premier League 2015-16 season, due to begin in March next year will adopt the players-by-choice transfer method after its proposal was passed through votes by the respective clubs.

Considering the circumstances under which the league will be held, with the unavailability of national cricketers due to international commitments compelled the clubs to go for this system of draft pick, reports our sports correspondent.

The players-by-choice transfer was previously seen during the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and was also adopted by the Dhaka Premier League in the 2012-13 season.

According to Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) Member Secretary Rakib Haider Pavel, eight clubs voted in favour of the proposal, three against. The schedule for the 2015-16 season will be finalized by Thursday. The CCDM will soon send a proposal to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on the categories and fees of players, he added.

The clubs involved in Dhaka Premier League 2015-16 felt that the alternative to the players-by-choice system when many cricketers would be engaged with national duties would have an inflationary effect on overall price of players.

During the absence of national cricketers, clubs would be entirely dependent on other cricketers in the pool, and these players can hike up their fees to exploit the situation. With the players-by-choice system, clubs feel more secured and can hope to manage with their pre-planned budget.

BCB President Nazmul Hassan had earlier passed the responsibility of player-transfer method on the clubs involved in Dhaka Premier League.

Players-by-choice transfer safeguards the clubs against exorbitant and unrealistic fees charged by players, and was deemed to be necessary considering the socio-economic context of Bangladesh, BCB President said.