This year the tournament is being played under a cost-cutting structure to reduce the burden on clubs.

Abahani have parted ways with their long-serving head coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon ahead of the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) season and replaced the 53-year-old with former national selector Hannan Sarkar. 

Hannan insisted that he didn’t feel any pressure while working as a national selector since March last year.

Selector Hannan Sarkar, however, said that the left-hander must come through a standard fitness procedure.

Selector Hannan Sarkar informed Shoriful's groin injury kept him out of the side, leading to the inclusion of Jakir, who has represented Bangladesh in 17 T20Is since making his debut at the Asian Games in 2023, as they went for an extra batter keeping the Indian conditions in mind.

Hannan Sarkar was among the very few, who stood their ground, defied their overwhelming opposition to earn some semblance of respect down under in 2003.