With less than 24 hours remaining for the start of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), players are stepping into the spotlight at pre-tournament press conferences.

Despite earlier promises of a "different kind" of BPL, the lead-up to this season has been marked by controversies, including reduced player salaries and extravagant expenditures on music festivals in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. One such concert featuring Pakistan's legendary singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan reportedly cost BDT 3.4 crore—significantly more than the BDT 2 crore prize money for the tournament champions.

When asked about these differences, Tamim tactfully commented, “Concerts have happened before and are happening now. I wasn’t in the country, so I can’t say much. However, if we want a truly different BPL, we need to invest in cricket and the tournament itself. That’s the most important thing. By investing in cricket, we can genuinely call it a new BPL.”

Tamim also emphasized that the focus should be on the sport rather than peripheral activities, stating, “It’s premature to comment on the concerts now. But my perspective is clear—if we want to make a meaningful change, we must invest in cricket.”

Fortune Barishal boasts a star-studded lineup this season, including Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Taijul Islam, and Rishad Hossain.

When asked about his opening partner for the opening match against Durbar Rajshahi, Tamim humorously preempted speculation, saying, “Shanto will open with me. So, don’t worry about that.”

The BPL kicks off tomorrow, with Barishal aiming to make a strong start in their campaign.