Dark Clouds Hang On Bangladesh Players' IPL 2024 Participation

image-lq7j2p2jBangladesh have a busy schedule leading into IPL 2024 (Twitter)

A dark cloud of uncertainty hangs large on Bangladesh players' involvement in the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), reported Cricbuzz, stating the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to determine whether it will release the players for the full season in March-May. 

Previously also the BCB had raised concerns regarding players' availability for international commitments coinciding with the IPL season, keeping in mind the fatigue factor. This time again it's more the workload management leaving them unsure as three of Bangladesh's lead pacers - Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam - are set to go under the hammer at the mini-auction on December 19.

Mustafizur, who has previously turned up for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), has kept his base prize at the highest value of INR 2 crores while Taskin and Islam, eyeing a team, have registered at base sums of 75 lakhs and 50 lakhs, respectively. 

However, "whether they will attract the attention of the franchise remains to be seen as their home board is not willing to release them for the whole season considering it will conflict with their national interest," Cricbuzz reported.

BCB Undecided On IPL 2024 Involvement 

According to the Future Tours Programme (FTP), Bangladesh are set to play Sri Lanka in 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is from the first week of March - a tweak from the originally planned start for February to accommodate the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) - before hosting Zimbabwe for 2 Tests and five T20Is in April and May ahead of the T20 World Cup in June. 

With almost all of their coming itinerary clashing with the next edition of the IPL, it remains to be seen how the BCB manages its players without them undergoing serious fatigue, which is the major point of concern for the team management, selectors and the board at this stage. 

"If the IPL conflicts with our national team in that case their (cricketers picked in the IPL players auction) chances are very slim to play the full tournament," BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus told Cricbuzz. 

"Furthermore, there is World T20 in June and we want to be careful in handling them as we need to think about their injury management and for that reason we want to take steps by taking everything into consideration," he added.