Premier League back in original format

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is all set to return to the home-and-away format, as decided by the professional football management committee yesterday.

The ongoing league will feature six venues across the country from the fourth round onward, leaving Tongi's Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium behind. 

 Previously, citing the upsurge of coronavirus, the Bangladesh Football Federation started the professional football league's 14th edition in two venues – Tongi and Munshiganj – without the home-and-away concept, leading to dispute with the Archery Federation for occupying the Tongi Stadium. However, this time, they have decided to revert to the original format, citing the infection rate of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus had reduced drastically. 

 "The fourth round matches of the league will take place in six venues except Tongi," informed Abdus Salam Murshedy, the league committee chairman, after mentioning that the third-round fixtures will continue to take place in Munshiganj and Tongi. Murshedy proceeded to reveal the finalised six venues and their corresponding home teams.

"Every venue will have two home teams. Sylhet will have Abahani and Rahmatganj, whereas Gopalganj will be the home venue for Muktijoddha Sangsad and Uttar Baridhara.

 "The Bashundhara Kings Arena will host Bashundhara Kings and Sheikh Russel KC while Sheikh Jamal DC and Saif SC will have Munshiganj as their home venue.

 "Police FC and Swadhinata KS will use Rajshahi Stadium as their home venue and Cumilla will host home matches for Mohammedan SC and Chittagong Abahani," informed Murshedy.