‘I hope cricket begins with DPL’

Although the coronavirus pandemic has brought daily life to a virtual standstill, the Bangladesh cricket team's stars are keen to see the return of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) and identified it as the foremost priority when cricket returns to the country. Mahmudullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal delved into what the DPL means to them during an Instagram chat on Sunday night.

"I think the DPL taking place is very, very important, not just for the cricketers but everyone involved. From the boys to physios, trainers and coaches and officials, it's for everyone," Mahmudullah told Tamim.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had postponed the second round of the DPL on March 16 in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus before all cricket in the country was postponed indefinitely. That left Tamim  worrying about the players who earn their bread and butter in the domestic circuit.

"We have been playing for the last 10-12 years and if the DPL is not held, we have been blessed and can weather this out. However, so many boys will be in huge trouble if the DPL isn't held… [that] is what needs to be realised," Tamim said.

"All I hope is that no matter when cricket begins, it begins with the DPL."

Mahmudullah spoke about what separates the DPL from other competitions.

"The thing is that the Premier League has an essence of its own. There is a different fighting spirit and eagerness. It has a different flavour and I don't think anything else matches it in that regard."

Tamim added that national team players felt a different kind of motivation when facing each other in the DPL.

"The way we compete with each other, that is not seen in any other league. The BPL is a different story but the DPL's intensity is very high."

Mahmudullah echoed those sentiments, saying: "Everyone is so hungry for runs and wickets and so the approach is totally different. It's a totally smash and grab approach."

BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told The Daily Star yesterday: "We will follow government directives since health and safety is most important. We are also in talks with other ICC member countries regarding the measures they will employ.

"Once we return to cricket, the DPL will be our highest priority. We want to do this since the DPL is the bread and butter for many cricketers. Our highest priority is to finish the Premier League. Regarding Premier League, we talk regularly with clubs and other stakeholders."