The ongoing Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) has struggled to generate excitement this year, with issues such as a sharp decline in players' salaries, a lack of competitive matches, and the challenges of travelling long distances during the month of Ramadan -- when players tend to fast during games -- dominating discussions rather than the cricket itself.

As the competition enters its business end, with eight rounds completed and only three remaining before the Super League phase and relegation battles, the competition faces another setback as the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr break will be followed by player absences.

The national team are set to host Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series from April 20 to May 2, with preparations beginning as early as April 10 or 11. As a result, DPL clubs will soon lose key players selected for the Test squad, forcing them to rely on less experienced backups.

The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) has already issued the itinerary for the remaining three league rounds, with matches resuming on April 6 before the Super League phase begins on April 15. According to Prime Bank Cricket Club head coach Talha Jubair, national team players will be available until April 9.

"What I know is that Test squad members can't play any matches in the league [after April 9]. We can't do anything about it," said Talha, whose side are currently in fourth position with 10 points from eight games.

Talha admitted that while his team have backup options, replacing potential Test call-ups like Zakir Hasan, Shahadat Dipu, Hasan Mahmud, and Khaled Ahmed would not be easy.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) cricket operations in-charge, Shahriar Nafees, also confirmed the unavailability of the Test squad members in the DPL Super League.

"I think the selectors will announce the squad just after Eid," Nafees informed The Daily Star.

"Apart from the national team, there will be no scarcity of players for other international commitments. The preparations for those series (New Zealand A and South Africa's Emerging Team's Bangladesh tour in May) will begin after the end of the Super League."

Nafees further informed that the foreign coaches will be arriving before the preparatory camp -- by April 7 or 8 -- while senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin and spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed's contract extensions are almost finalised.

"[Regarding Salahuddin's contract] It would have been confirmed during the board meeting, but it couldn't take place due to the health situation of Tamim [Iqbal]. It will definitely be a long-term contract, whereas Mushtaq's contract will be 130 days per year," he informed.