Lockdown extension may halt resumption

The second phase of the Bangladesh Premier League, which was set to resume on April 30, could be postponed due to the newly extended seven-day lockdown.

The government on Monday decided to continue the ongoing lockdown till May 5 midnight. A gazette notification is set to be issued in this on Tuesday. BFF General Secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag said that they will take further decision after the gazette notification of the lockdown gets issued. ‘We will wait for the gazette notification. We have to see the restrictions there. If we see no flexibility in restrictions, we will postpone the league. Health and hygiene come first,’ Shohag told reporters on Monday. The Professional Football League Committee of BFF has already made a draft schedule for the second phase where defending champions Bashundhara Kings and Uttar Baridhara Club will lock horns in the first match at the Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Tongi on April 30. In the day’s other matches, Brothers Union will play against Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra and Abahani Limited will take on Police FC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Mohammedan Sporting Club will face Arambagh KS at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla. BFF committee for women’s football was also planning to resume the women’s football league on May 5 but the extended lockdown could end up deferring it.BFF executive committee member and women’s committee chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron said that they are now uncertain about resuming the league. ‘The plan was to resume the league after seven-day of the lockdown on May 5. Now, the government has extended lockdown until May 5. We will take the next decision after issuing the gazette notification,’ said Kiron.