BPL confirms DRS, foreign umpire

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will introduce the Decision Review System (DRS) and add a foreign umpire to each game in the sixth edition of the T20 competition; which is likely to kick off from January 5 next year.

BPL governing council member secretary IH Mallick disclosed the additions yesterday after a meeting with the franchise owners at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

He also informed that the players' draft would take place on October 25.

"We sat in on the meeting with the franchise owners today and finalised some decisions. The players' draft will take place on October 25, we will introduce the review system and each team will get one review per innings, one foreign umpire will stand behind the stumps in every match, each team can retain four players and the franchisee must inform the names by September this year," informed Mallick.

"The franchisee can also take two foreign players from outside the registered players but must take the rest from the list. Those foreign players who played in the last edition will also be included in the draft," he added.

Mallick also explained the reason behind their decision of allowing two unregistered foreign players.

"Due to the upcoming elections we have had to shift this season's tournament to January next year and during this time the other leagues around the world will take place. So to fulfil the demand of foreign players we have decided to allow two unregistered foreign players," he said.

Mallick said that the tournament was likely to start from January 5 but if the national elections were held early then it may start from January 4.

Meanwhile, BCB director Sheikh Sohel was named as acting chairman of the BPL governing council. The post was vacant after the demise of Afzalur Rahman Sinha on August 8.