Black clouds eliminated over Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the second phase of the BPL will kick off on Friday, informed the senior Vice-President of the football federation and Chairman of the Professional Football League Committee (PFLC) Abdus Salam Murshedi on a virtual press conference on Wednesday. The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification extending the ongoing lockdown from April 28 to May 5. The schedule date of the second phase of the BPL was on Friday but the countrywide lockdown extended till May 5, for this reason clubs and the football lovers worried about this news. The Professional Football League Committee (PFLC) sent a letter to the Youth and Sports Ministry last week to run the BPL.
Salam Murshedy said, “We sent a letter to the ministry to resume the BPL. And we are determined to participate the match. The cabinet Division extended the lockdown will extend till May 5, But we will start the second phase. We have a problem ahead. The Eid-ul-Fitr is knocking at the door. On the other hand, Bashundhara Kings and Abahani Limited will play AFC qualifying round- 2 matches and they will visit to Maldives and India. Though Indian Visa is not available due to lockdown and the situation all over the India is totally worsen.
Meanwhile, the PFLC of BFF has already made a draft schedule for the second phase where defending Champions Bashundhara Kings will take on Uttar Baridhara Club in the first encounter at the Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Tongi on April 30.
The Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union will meet Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra and Abahani Limited will face Police FC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Mohammedan Sporting Club will play against Arambagh KS at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla. But the schedule will be changed and the new fixture will draft within shortest possible time.
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.