The decision to delay the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) has sparked frustration among many players and officials, with many wondering if adequate planning and support are being provided for women’s cricket in the country.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to delay the three-team women’s Twenty20 (T20) league, which was originally scheduled for April 4-14, until July 10-21. The league will feature matches in Bogura, Chattogram, and Dhaka, a press release from the cricket board said. The change in schedule, however, has not gone well with many in the cricketing world.
Some people believe that there are underlying causes for the move, including a lack of interest from credible franchise owners and the unstable board following the February 12 national elections. The situation was made even worse by the call to cancel the Women’s Dhaka Premier Division and First Division Leagues due to protests from clubs regarding the board’s legitimacy.
The most affected parties are probably the national team and the country’s players. The WBPL would have been an essential opportunity for players to engage in matches before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in June-July in England and Wales. The national team will be participating in a home series against Sri Lanka and a tri-nation tournament in Scotland before the global tournament.
Players have openly expressed their frustration over the decision. Bangladesh opener Dilara Akter confessed that the league was a great chance for the team to get match practice before the World Cup. She said that her team does not get a chance to play many T20 matches.
Former Bangladesh captain Rumana Ahmed has also spoken against the decision. She said that the decision has not provided a competitive environment for the team. Moreover, it has also affected the preparation for the Bangladesh national team for the World Cup. She said that the Dhaka Premier League was also postponed for the WBPL. So, the postponement of the tournament was a bit disappointing.
This is not all, however, as Rumana also highlighted a larger issue: that of a domestic framework for women’s cricket in Bangladesh. The lack of a fixed calendar for events like the Premier League and First Division has created uncertainty among players and selectors alike. This is because of a lack of domestic matches, which makes one wonder how the team is supposed to prepare for major events or even how the World Cup team is supposed to be selected.
Rumana also highlighted the absence of a consistent domestic calendar. “Before the last ODI World Cup, the girls couldn’t play proper preparation matches. Even the First Division and Premier League have no fixed schedule. Women’s cricket remains in a state of uncertainty,” she said, questioning how the World Cup squad will be selected without proper domestic fixtures.
The postponement of the first WBPL has not only delayed this milestone in women’s cricket in Bangladesh but also created concerns among women cricketers regarding their future.
(Quote sourced from Daily Star)
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