The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) has taken all preparations to make the upcoming Twenty20 Premier League a gorgeous event although controversy loomed over the scheduling of the shortest format of the game.
The 12-team tournament gets underway tomorrow and
seven out of a total 34 matches will be held under the floodlights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur.
Big Boss, an energy drink which is a product of Partex Beverage Ltd, is going to be the title sponsor of the meet, announced Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) at a media briefing yesterday at its office in Mirpur.
Holders Mohammedan raised question about the neutrality of the game's governing body after they were given only one match under lights. Mohammedan's archrivals Abahani and Kalabagan KC have been given two day-night matches each.
Mohammedan's cricket committee chairman Lutfur Rahman Badal claimed that they were allotted the day-night game only after huge criticism over the initial fixture which included four day-night matches for Abahani and none for Mohammedan. Later, the CCDM was forced to revise the fixtures to allot a day-night tie for the Motijheel-based outfit.
The BCB did not favour any club and everything was done according to a meeting of the CCDM where the representatives of all 12 participating clubs were present, said CCDM chairman GS Hasan Tamim at the press conference.
Tamim also informed that satellite channel Desh TV would televise seven matches live including the semifinals and the final from the venue.
Besides Radio Foorti is the tournament's radio partner.
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We have a jersey unveiling programme, live concerts involving popular pop stars at the SBNCS during innings breaks. A DJ corner, cheergirls, SMS quiz competition for fans, a paper-lantern show and fireworks have also been planned. Through the media we want to invite the fans to this grand show," informed Tamim adding that there would be no such programmes like cheerleaders and live concert at two other venues -- Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium and Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
To make the event more attractive, the CCDM chairman said they will award Tk one lakh each to the hitter of most sixes and quickest fifty. The best batsman and the bowler of the tournament will get Tk two lakh each.
Sponsors Partex will provide Tk 20 lakh, 12 lakh less than the estimated budget of Tk 32 lakh.
"Our association with cricket in this country has previously seen the involvement of RC and MUM. However, considering the fast pace of the T20 format we thought Big Boss would be the ideal brand for the occasion," said Rubel Aziz, managing director of Partex Beverage Ltd.
BCB's marketing and commercial committee chairman Aziz-Al Kaiser and media committee chairman Jalal Yunus were present during the briefing
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