Sports Desk:

Bangladesh Test and Twenty20 International captain Shakib Al Hasan, who will also captain Fortune Barisal in the Bangladesh Premier League, has termed the franchise-based tournament a complete mess due to multiple failures of the BPL governing council just two days before the start of the tournament’s ninth edition.

While the country’s lone franchise T20 competition starts on January 6, some franchise owners are yet to prepare their official jerseys, and the governing council has yet to name the title sponsor and incorporate the Decision Review System for the group phase ties.

Shakib, Gulf Oil Bangladesh Ltd’s brand ambassador, was appointed the company’s CEO for the day. The star all-rounder made comments about BPL-related issues as he sat in his chair on Wednesday in a programme organised by the company.

The veteran cricketer Shakib was asked how he would organise the BPL if he were handed the job, and he quite confidently believed that he would make things right within a few months.

If Shakib were appointed CEO, he claimed that the problems that BPL is known for would no longer exist.

‘If I am made CEO of BPL, it won’t take me too many days. I think it will take me one to two months maximum to make everything right,’ said Shakib.

With a smirk on his face, he continued, ‘It might not even take two months; even two months seem a lot.’

Then he made a movie reference, saying, ‘You watched the movie ‘Nayak’? You can do a lot in a single day. If you are good at something, you can do other things as well.’

Shakib talked about the auction and the unavailability of foreign players, along with the unavailability of the latest technology, suggesting that the tournament will be less competitive and insignificant.

‘I would discard everything that happened, and the draft and auction will happen anew. BPL will take place in a free time with the latest technology available,’ Shakib further added.

‘The player would arrive one day and leave the next, and no one knew who or when they would arrive. I learned through the news that players are yet to receive a jersey, which suggests a complete mess,’ said Shakib.

‘Also, the auction should have occurred at least three months ago, and teams could have been settled two months earlier if the players were available.’

Concerning the unavailability of DRS, the champion cricketer believes it wouldn’t be difficult if the governing council truly desired to incorporate it.

‘I guess it might be due to the budget shortage at BCB. Nothing stops if there is compassion. I don’t see any reason for DRS’s absence.’

Shakib also raised concerns about BCB being unable to turn BPL into a popular tournament.

‘I also don’t know whether the BCB couldn’t or didn’t want to establish BPL as a brand. If they truly wanted to consider the possibility of Bangladesh cricket, there is no reason.’

‘I guess we didn’t want to do anything like that outspokenly; therefore, nothing took place until today,’ he added.

The 35-year-old claimed that even Dhaka Premier League also takes place in a more structural manner.

‘I guess even the Dhaka Premier League may take place in a better way as they can settle their respective sides at the very beginning,’ Shakib concluded.