Concern over India series in August; BPL set for December–January window

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Monday the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will be held in the December–January window.

Given the criticism of the last BPL, the board has decided to engage a sports management agency for the franchise tournament, as is done in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) or IPL (Indian Premier League), BCB director Iftekhar Rahman Mithu informed during the press conference following the 19th meeting of BCB's board of directors.

The board will also provide a framework where teams will be drafted in for a period of five years.

Meanwhile, there are concerns over India's tour of Bangladesh in August this year after board president Aminul Islam Bulbul said in today's press conference that discussions are ongoing with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

India were set to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is in August, and the itinerary of the tour had been confirmed by the BCB some time ago.

"We're holding discussions with the BCCI," Bulbul said.

"If they can't come in the August window, although our discussions haven't finished, the series will take place in the next available window. Our window is open and we are discussing the August window.

"Although the series was already decided, they had some concerns as, apart from their national team, some of their other teams went to England. They are currently waiting for their government's decision, as their U-23 team was supposed to go to Sri Lanka, which was postponed. But from the discussions we had, we are still hopeful [of series in August]," informed the BCB boss.

The decisions came after a marathon six-hour-long meeting by the BCB board of directors. The meeting started at 3:00 pm and ended close to 9:15 pm before the board president and director Mithu briefed the media.

BCB also informed that the board appointed former elite ICC umpire Simon Taufel to lead umpire education in Bangladesh on a three-year contract.

"We've finalised the agreement with Simon, and he, along with his team, will work to educate our umpires," said Bulbul.