Kings ask for AFC Cup fixtures to be rescheduled

Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings today requested the Bangladesh Football Federation to tell the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to reschedule the group stage fixtures of the AFC Cup in August as the tentative AFC Cup fixtures clash with their domestic fixtures.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has recently postponed the fixtures of AFC Cup Group D involving Kings, Mohun Bagan, Maziya S&RC and Bengaluru FC/Club Eagles which was scheduled to take place in Maldives from May 14 to 21 before rescheduling them to take place between June 30 till July 6.

"Bashundhara Kings want to respect [the Bangladesh Premier League's] fixtures published by Bangladesh Football Federation as it was published way ahead of new dates given by AFC, which has also changed their original official calendar," a Bashundhara Kings statement read. "We request BFF to inform AFC to reschedule the group stage fixtures after 2 August, 2021 when Bangladesh Premier League will be fully completed. This will help BFF to complete their predetermined league schedule in time to help all clubs of Bangladesh football."

Although Kings submitted the letter to the local game's governing body for the deferment of the AFC Cup, the defending league champions intend to host the AFC Cup Group D matches as per the revised AFC Cup schedule for South Asian zone and will put forward a bid to host the matches.

Kings had previously bid to host AFC Cup Group D fixture in Sylhet but Maldives had won the bid back then. However, Maldives expressed inability to host the fixtures due to the present Covid-19 situation in the country.

Asked what Kings will do if BFF revises the domestic fixtures to pave way for Kings' international fixtures, Media manager Shaeek Ahmed said that they first want to see the response from the BFF and then take the necessary steps.