8 DPL clubs squeeze into Mirpur facility

The National Cricket Academy ground in Mirpur over the last week has hosted at least eight clubs out of the twelve taking part in this season’s Dhaka Premier League. This, despite some of these clubs having their own grounds in different parts of the capital. Big name clubs like Abahani Limited, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Brothers Union, Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club have held practice sessions at the small training ground. Though it has some of the best facilities in the country, the whole picture is of chaos as teams end up, quite literally, stepping on each other’s toes. Abahani and Mohammedan have their own facilities in Dhanmondi and Motijheel respectively but both are having constructions so the grounds aren’t available to the cricket teams. Brothers Union also have a ground in Gopibagh while Sheikh Jamal have their own facility in Dhanmondi. The two Kalabagan clubs and Cricket Coaching School are all based in Kalabagan. The only clubs who are not training in Mirpur are Gazi Group Cricketers who have camped in Rajshahi while Prime Doleshwar Club and Legends of Rupganj have settled in Fatullah. Prime Bank Cricket Club have trained in the northern part of Dhaka and also in the Academy ground. “The clubs request the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis for using the BCB-owned facilities. The request gets relayed to the BCB Grounds and Facilities who allocates the facilities accordingly,” Syed Abdul Baten, BCB’s grounds manager informed Dhaka Tribune yesterday. Jalal Younus, the BCB media and communication chairman and Abahani Limited vice-president, said it is sad that the culture of having own infrastructure has not developed over the last several years. He said the club grounds are also not up to the mark in terms of facilities that a modern cricketer needs. “We have been trying to find out a field and renovate it so that the Premier League clubs can practice but there is hardly an empty spot in Dhaka. There is this TNT ground that we have been in talks with. And those who have got the fields are not up to the mark so they need to go to Mirpur anyways. Financial factor is a big reason behind slow development,” Jalal explained. “I would always like to have an exclusive practice session for my team but we cannot have that due to limitations. There are efforts from the board to encourage the clubs to have their own infrastructure. I believe things will change, soon,” the BCB director added.