Kings, six other clubs agree to keep foreign players

Holders Bashundhara Kings and six other clubs agreed to keep foreign players for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2020-21 while two clubs Saif Sporting Club and Uttar Baridhara Sporting Club wanted to play without foreign players.

Those six clubs are: Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, Arambagh Krira Sangha, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra, Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society, Brothers Union Limited and Bangladesh Police Football Club.

The rest of four clubs -- BPL runners-up Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Sheikh Jamal DC Ltd and Dhaka Mohammedan SC -- are yet to reply. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) sent a notice to those clubs yesterday and requested them to reply within two or three days.

BFF Professional Football League Committee (PFLC) made some proposals for the upcoming BPL in their last meeting on September 1 and requested all participating clubs to send their respective opinions within September 10.

The committee proposed clubs to take part in the 2020-21 BPL season without foreign players, to retain their local players, to pay players the full amount of contract money for the 2019-20 season and only 20 to 25 percent for the 2020-21 season. Besides, they proposed to shorten the schedule and reduced the number of venues to 3-4.

BFF senior vice-president and PFLC chairman Abdus Salam Murshedy MP said that they would observe all the recommendations made by clubs in their next meeting, expected to be held this week.

“Most of the clubs agreed to play with foreign players in the upcoming BPL, but they disagreed on the number of players. We will observe all recommendations and will find a common, easier way for all. We will take decisions about it in our next meeting, expected to be held this week,” Murshedy told The Daily Sun.

While asking about dissenting clubs, the BFF senior vice-president replied, “It is a professional league and it may lose its attraction without foreign players. Again, if most clubs agree to play with foreign players, we will have no second option. In this case, we have to reduce the number of players,” he added.

Source: daily sun

BDST: 1344 HRS, SEP 12, 2020
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