‘No chance of resuming BPL before July’

Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) senior vice-president Abdus Salam Murshedy sees no possibility of resuming the Bangladesh Premier League before July, that too subject to rapid improvement in the coronavirus situation.

Murshedy, also chairman of the professional football league committee, made the comment to The Daily Star yesterday, a day after the deadline of suspension of all types of sports activities following the youth and sports ministry's directives on March 16 ended. Even though there has not been any further directive in this regard from the ministry, it is understood that under the current circumstances the halt in sporting activities is likely to be extended for indefinite period.

"As per news I'm getting from media as a member of parliament and as a businessman involved internationally, I think no football competition can restart by June. The month of Ramadan will start in the latter part of this month with the thus Eid-ul-Fitr on May 25 or 26, which will also follow another seven-day holiday. Then we have to give at least one month's notice to the clubs for their preparation because all clubs have released their players," Murshedy said while on his way back from a high-level meeting of the government yesterday.

"I think if the situation improves rapidly, the league can resume on the first week of July. If the situation improves slowly, then it won't be easy to get the ball rolling by that time," Murshedy added.

The former footballer even believes resuming the league amid slow improvement of the situation will not be wise.  Even in the best-possible scenario, Murshedy wants to judge the situation across the country before allowing teams to go to their home venues to play home-and-away matches of the league, which has only had six out of 25 rounds of matches completed.

Before the postponement of the league, the clubs requested the game's local governing body to find a way about the payment of foreign players, who are supposed to get monthly salaries as per contract. However, Murshedy said that this issue depends primarily on the clubs. "If any club faces any problem and seek our help, then we can come forward to help settle the matter," said the BFF vice-president, who has been at the helm of the league committee for the last 12 years.