Pakistan players asked to prematurely return from BPL

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had asked its players engaged in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to head back for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

The second Dhaka phase of the BPL ended on January 24 as the franchises gear up for the Sylhet leg, to be held from January 27 to 31. The BPL would then return to Dhaka on February 3 but there are concerns over how exciting the latter stages of the BPL would be if a mass exodus of Pakistan stars took place beforehand.

Pakistan based media report said that as per PCB directives on Tuesday, players were advised to come back because PSL starts on February 13.

In this edition of the BPL, Pakistan stars have already taken the spotlight with notable performances. The likes of Iftikhar Ahmed of Fortune Barishal is amongst the highest run-getters in this edition, having struck an unbeaten ton and also being the joint-highest six-hitter in the tournament alongside Barishal skipper Shakib Al Hasan.

Khulna Tigers' Wahab Riaz is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament while the likes of Harris Rauf and Naseem Shah, who bagged four wickets on his BPL debut, came up with notable performances. ICC's second-ranked T20I batter Mohammad Rizwan has also made his presence felt for Comilla Victorians.

While one source from a BPL franchise informed that no official communication with the PCB took place, another source confirmed the development. 

"Yes, the directive from the PCB to the Pakistan players had arrived earlier," the latter source told The Daily Star.

However, the more important communication is set to take place between the Pakistan based stars and their respective PSL franchises.

"The players will talk to the PCB and then they will discuss with the franchises. If the franchises and the respective players agree on the date of departure from Bangladesh then the PCB won't have any say on the matter," a source from Sylhet Strikers confirmed the information to The Daily Star.

Players have media commitments for franchises and thus the directive from PCB had come to return early. The BPL franchises were aware that some of the stars may not be able to play during the latter stages of the tournament. For now, the matter is left up to the players and the PSL franchises. The playoffs for the BPL will begin on February 12 with the final slated for February 16.