In addition to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) concern over the Sylhet stadium being built for next year’s T20 World Cup, the board is also constructing a temporary stadium in Cox’s Bazar for the event. Yesterday, board president Nazmul Hasan clarified that the new stadium would only be a temporary one.
The BCB president sat in a meeting with the civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan at the secretariat where Nazmul Hasan pointed out problems regarding the Cox’s Bazar stadium. “There are several issues regarding the land of the stadium. It is a concern and there is a master plan where we have to build the stadium according to that plan,” said Nazmul.
Tourism minister Faruk Khan said that though the Cox’s Bazar stadium will be a temporary one, a five star would be built in the city. “We have already sanctioned a five star resort at that land and it’s already in the PPP (public private partnership) office and I think we can arrange T20 championship in that place. There will be everything which is going to build temporarily for the event,” said Faruk.
The BCB boss explained the financial difficulties of the situation. “If we want to transfer the land right now it will be a lengthy process so this issues should not stop the world cup. There will be a huge fund needed, such as 100 to 150 crore which is not possible for BCB,” said Nazmul.
However, Nazmul seemed confident that the stadium would be ready in time. “We are going to give the fund for the stadium. At the moment as you all know, this should be done by the NSC, but it will take three to four months which we don’t have. So we are going to fund and by September 30, we will be able to finish the work and I have seen there is not much work left.
“We have already started the pitch work. We have to build the boundary wall and we are going to build four dressing rooms with pre-fabric structure, which we can remove to the permanent stadium at minimum cost, whenever that is made.”
Nazmul however, did not have any further comments on the permanent stadium that he had earlier pledged to build. “I don’t want to comment. Either the stadium will be replaced from here or not, it’s up to the government and I think it should be built as a sports complex, but we won’t talk about this issue today,” he said.
Nazmul also spoke about the demands for money made by clubs before the start of the Dhaka Premier League at the recent CCDM meet. “The clubs have asked for money this time from the board, as they had last year after they suffered from the BPL. This time, they asked for more money. I can’t say anymore on the matter until speaking to the board.”
Nazmul underplayed the difficulties of the players transfer date, scheduled for July 25. “I don’t think there is any link with the players transfer issue. I am not giving this top priority as this time the cost of the clubs have gone down to one third, so I don’t think the clubs should negotiate with us. I think they should give money to the board, but at the moment, I can’t say anything.”
