Hathurusingha: When I am watching the BPL, I sometimes turn off the TV
|| CF DESK ||
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has candidly compared the Bangladesh Premier League to a circus, expressing his disinterest in the franchise T20 tournament. The Sri Lankan coach went further to remark that he doesn't even bother to watch the matches.
Hathurusingha has noted that some of the players participating in the BPL do not meet the expected standards of professional cricket. This insight came to light during an interview with ESPNcricinfo, shedding light on the coach's perspective on the league's quality and player caliber.
"We don't have a proper T20 tournament. This sounds very odd but when I am watching the BPL, I sometimes turn off the TV. Some players are not even of the class," Hathurusingha said.
"I have a big issue with the current system. The ICC needs to step in. Our board needs to do something about us. There has to be some regulations. A player is playing one tournament and then playing another tournament. It is like a circus. Players will talk about opportunities, but that's not right. People will lose interest. I have lost interest," the head coach said added.
Once lauded as the premier T20 league following the IPL, the Bangladesh Premier League has witnessed a decline in its standing, as other lucrative competitions like the PSL, CPL, and Big Bash have risen to prominence.
Hathurusingha emphasizes the necessity for Bangladesh to establish a robust domestic T20 tournament, as he believes that local players often find themselves sidelined amidst the star-studded franchises of the BPL.
"We need to have a tournament where our players can do things - like Bangladesh players batting in the top three, Bangladesh bowlers bowling in the death. Where will we learn these things otherwise? We have only one tournament. My ideal suggestion is that we have another tournament before the BPL. A franchise does what it wants. Some of my best players are not playing [the BPL]. So then how do you expect the Bangladesh team be up with the other teams? I am fighting a steep battle," said Hathurusingha.
