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The 12-team tournament, sponsored by Walton and powered by Bashundhara Cement, will feature 66 matches, with fixtures for the first three rounds announced and reserve days in place due to the rainy season. Matches will, for the first time, be spread across six venues -- Pubergaon Shikkha Protisthan Ground 2, Cricketers Academy (300 Feet), BKSP Grounds 3 and 4, Bashundhara Sports City Complex and ULAB -- to ease travel demands. Medical support has been strengthened with ambulances at all venues and plans for ICU units at selected grounds, including BKSP BCB will provide healthier lunch options for all teams, with a fitness-focused menu replacing traditional heavy meals. Anti-Corruption Unit protocols used in the Bangladesh Premier League will be reinstated, with players and officials required to submit phones before matches, leaving access only to team managers.

PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

More venues, healthier diet as DPL returns

SPORTS REPORTER

Following months of uncertainty, the Dhaka Premier League is set to begin on May 4 across six venues. The country’s premier one-day competition had faced doubts over its staging amid unrest surrounding the Bangladesh Cricket Board elections, which ultimately led to the fall of the Aminul Islam-led board last month.

BCB ad hoc committee president Tamim Iqbal acknowledged the challenges and outlined several changes for the upcoming edition. “This is one of the most important tournaments in our cricket ecosystem. It was challenging to organise, as cricket had been stagnant for the last few months,” he said yesterday, thanking the clubs for helping resume the competition.