None of the six existing Bangladesh Premier League T20 franchises have submitted EOI (Expression of Interest) to take part in the upcoming edition of the tournament as ‘team sponsors’.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in a surprise move earlier this month came with the decision to not involve the franchises for the seventh edition of BPL T20 which is to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The BCB decision declared by board president Nazmul Hasan had come at the back of the recent differences between the BPL Governing Council and the franchises. Nazmul in a press conference had cited that the time in hand was not adequate enough to implement new tournament by-laws rather the tournament should come in full strength in it 2020-21 season.
Instead of the franchises, the BCB had decided to bring in ‘sponsors’ for the team and that the board would single handedly manage both the tournament and guide the teams. EOI for a Team Sponsor was floated on Sept 17 with a deadline of Sept 22.
The discussion was wide if the franchises would participate in the tournament as per the new plan of the BCB. But media finding is none of the franchises dropped EOI to participate in the ‘special edition’ of the BPL T20.
Meanwhile, the BCB is yet to declare the final number of submissions received by parties interested to sponsor the teams in the upcoming edition of the tournament set to start in December this year.
Speaking to many BCB sources it is understood that around four to five EOIs have been received by the board. However as it has been, only two names, Akhtar Group and Tiger IT, have been making rounds in the cricket community.
Despite continuous quarry by the media, the BCB is yet to come with an official statement on the subject.