The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has decided to postpone the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after the upcoming eighth round to allow preparation time for the national under-18 team, who will participate in the SAFF U-18 Championship in Bhutan from September 18 to 27.

The decision came at a meeting of the Professional Football League Committee (PFLC) at the BFF House yesterday. The league has been postponed as many of the national squad players ply their trade for different clubs of the BPL.

National team head coach Andrew Ord has been preparing the side since August 7, even though the BPL players have not been released yet.

"All the participating clubs agreed to take a pause from the league considering national interest," PFLC chairman .Abdus Salam Murshedy said after the meeting.

The clubs agreed to release their players after the eighth round, which will be held from September 10 to 12.

"After completion of the eighth round, the league will remain suspended for at least three weeks, however, we are yet to decide on the date of resumption," Murshedy added.

The BFF senior vice-president also claimed that the gap would give Bangabandhu National Stadium some respite as all 42 matches of the first seven rounds were played this venue