Discussions are abound in the cricket fraternity over whether the Dhaka Premier League can be staged during the winter.
The conversation of finding a new slot in the calendar for the premier 50-over tournament of the country has come on the back of the ongoing heat wave throughout the country.
Abahani Limited head coach and Bangladesh Cricket Board director Khaled Mahmud while speaking to the media last Sunday had pressed on the need to shift the tournament calendar.
The former Bangladesh captain believes it is necessary, as the scorching heat is hampering the performance of the players and might also cause severe health hazards.
The country's maximum temperature was recorded at 42.2° Celsius at Chuadanga last Saturday.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan agreed on the need to change the slot of DPL to winter, but said it will be tough.
Bangladesh cricket calendar is already extremely busy.
Along with international bilateral series' at home, there are domestic competitions which take place at the same time in the form of National Cricket League and Bangladesh Cricket League followed by the most anticipated cricket tournament of the country, Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20.
International matches in winter also means the national team cricketers are kept busy and thus will not be available for the Dhaka League – something the clubs will never agree to.
“This heat wave is unprecedented. I have never seen weather like this [in Bangladesh] before. We will keep this experience in mind while planning the tournaments in future. But to be honest, I do not think we have enough room to bring a change to DPL schedule. We already have a very busy calendar,” said Nazmul to the journalists at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Monday.
“Then there is also the fact that the clubs will not agree to play without the national cricketers. No club wants to play without the national cricketers so for that as well it will not be possible to make changes to the calendar,” the BCB chief added.
The ongoing edition of the Dhaka League that commenced on March 15 is expected to be finished by the middle of May.
