The league resumes after a rare three-month break but the motive to delay the start of the super six remains unachieved.

In a bid to include the top cricketers of the country, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) had decided to start the championship leg after the World Cup. But the Tigers would not be available for national duty due to the home series against India.

The problem will be more complicated for Abahani, who won ten out of their 11 matches to have a three-point cushion atop the 12-team table, as they will not be able to field a team after today's game at the Fatullah Stadium.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is already in Chittagong for the third and final one-dayer against India while skipper Khaled Mashud and his in-form deputy Tushar Imran will have to be released on Tuesday for the two Tests.

"We have just 11 players for today's game and there will be only seven local players left after the DOHS match. So we are going to appeal to the CCDM to postpone the league for the time being," told Abahani official GS Hassan Tamim last night.

He informed that opener and reserve wicketkeeper Jahurul Islam Aumi is injured while Sohrawardy Shuvo is an HSC examinee, who will play today's match on request.

Abahani have also lost key player Manzarul Islam Rana, the national all-rounder who died of a road accident in Khulna last March.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Upul Chandana was due to arrive in Dhaka last night to fill the foreign quota.

In the day's other games, Mohammedan Sporting Club meet Bangladesh Biman at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium while Sonargaon Cricketers are pitted against Victoria Sporting Club at BKSP.

The relegation dogfight will take place between Indira Road, City Club and Brothers Union with two to go down to First Division. The relegation league fixtures have yet to be finalised.

Young Pegasus, Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Partex have no more part in the competition.