Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud, also a former director of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has seen all the corridors of BCB, club cricket and franchise cricket in the country. Mahmud, who is coaching Dhaka Capitals in what has been a lacklustre campaign in the Bangladesh Premier League so far, gave his insights about the ongoing payment issues in the BPL, the state of his team and their star batter Liton Das, and Dhaka’s club cricket scenario in an interview with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi. The excerpts of the interview are as follows:

Over the past week, club officials have raised concerns regarding certain proposals made by the constitution amendment committee, led by BCB director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, which they believe could harm the country’s cricket.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim said that the Women’s Bangladesh Premier League will help to improve women’s cricket in the country.

Club officials have vehemently criticised the new changes in TV and print media reports over the past few days.

The Dhaka-based clubs have given Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) an ultimatum to revoke the proposed changes to the BCB constitution. The proposed changes being considered by a five-member committee, led by BCB director Najmul Abedeen Fahim, were leaked in the media recently.

The BCB has the opportunity to make changes to the Champions Trophy squad till next month. It rarely makes it easy to rule out abnormality. So, is there another twist around the corner or have we seen the last of Shakib in national colours?

This will be the first time in 18 years that Bangladesh will play in an ICC event without both Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan

Tamim had a chance to rewrite the ending by taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy, starting next month, but eventually chose not to.

The selectors had approached Tamim during the ongoing Sylhet phase of the Bangladesh Premier League, presenting the 35-year-old with an opportunity to rejoin the squad. While the southpaw listened to their proposition and mulled over his prospects, he ultimately decided against making a comeback.

With the Champions Trophy squad submission deadline looming on January 12, the decision to reintroduce a player to a national team plagued by batting consistency raises eyebrows.

Former BCB director Khaled Mahmud Sujon came down heavily on the pair of Faruque Ahmed and Nazmul Abedeen over perceived 'greed' related to cricket operations department. Faruque, as the BCB president is currently heading the department as no standing committees are yet to be announced with only few board directors available.

The decision-making process, in particular, as well as the outcomes, often relating to simple issues, are commonly shrouded in mystery, most of it done unnecessarily.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed hoped that players will get their money from the franchises in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.

In previous years, star cricketers like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, and Imran Tahir, who are generally seen ruling the franchise tournaments across the world, featured for different BPL franchises but this year, none of these players will be playing in the country’s sole franchise-based T20 tournament.

In opening day’s fixtures, reigning champions Fortune Barishal will take on newcomers Durbar Rajshahi at 01:30pm while Rangpur Riders will face Dhaka Capitals in the second match at 06:30pm.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.gobcbticket.com.bd

Sumaiya Akter will lead the team in this event, while Afia Ashima Era will play the role of her deputy.

Five U-19 cricketers including skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim and pacer Iqbal Hossain Emon, who were part the Asia Cup winning squad in the UAE, featured in the just-concluded National Cricket League T20 held in Sylhet, showcasing notable performances that caught the eyes of the franchises.

“Overall, the tournament has brought many players into the focus of the selection panel. We hope to consistently organise the tournament in the future and hope that the deficiency that we have in the T20 format will be fulfilled,” said Minhajul Abedin Nannu..

Currently, BCB is asking Tk three crore from each BPL franchise as a bank guarantee, which they wanted to confirm by December 24 after extending the deadline multiple times and reducing the amount on each occasion.