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   DHAKA, March 14, 2022 (BSS)-The Dhaka Premier League (DPL) is set to roll

onto the ground tomorrow (Tuesday) after being postponed for two seasons due
to the Covid-19 pandemic.

   The league is named Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League to mark the birth
centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

   Last year the DPL was held in T20 format and that indeed replaced the
2019-2020 DPL which was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

   The traditional 50-over format so is back after two seasons, much to the
elation of the clubs and supporters. It will, however, be the seventh DPL
since the league got List A status.

   Reigning champions Abahani Limited who will fight for hat-trick title will
take on Rupganj Tigers at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium where the
opening ceremony also will be held.

   The opening day will see two more matches with Prime Bank Cricket Club
taking on City Club at BKSP-3 ground and Gazi Group Cricketers facing off
Legends of Rupganj at BKSP-4 ground.

   Rupganj Tigers and City Club are the two teams this season, promoted to
the DPL from the first division league.

   11 teams will vie for the coveted trophy instead of 12 in this season as
the Prime Doleshwar, the three-time runners-up team, skipped the league at
the eleventh hour. Officials said Doleshwar management couldn't form the team
properly ahead of the league.

   Since 11 teams will take part in the tournament, one team will be
relegated instead of two but three bottom table teams will play the
relegation league as usually.

   The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said they are
embarrassed by the Prime Doleshwar incident as the team withdrew the league
at the last moment.

   "We are embarrassed by the incident as they skipped the league at the last
moment. The board will take the necessary step against them," he said here
today.

   The DPL will see the presence of the overseas players this year after two
seasons.

   In the previous two editions, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis
(CCDM) did not allow the clubs to recruit foreign cricketers. This time they
have allowed the clubs to play one foreign player. Almost all the clubs have
used the opportunity.  

  The BCB however today named Walton as the title sponsor of the league. With
this, Walton gets the sponsorship for the 10th time in a row. The official
name of the league is "Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League
2021-2022 sponsored by Walton."

   The DPL will not get the national players from the outset of the league as
the players will be busy with South Africa tour. Those who are in the ODI
squad just could join their respective teams from sixth or seventh round but
the players who are in the Test squad may even miss the first two matches of
the Super League phase. Based on the points, six teams will make it Super
League.