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Defending champions Fortune Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal wants fewer teams in the Bangladesh Premier League to ensure a better quality of cricket. 

The former national captain also wants the franchise-based T20 tournament to be moved to October-November in the calendar. He also urged the BCB to be extremely careful about choosing the owners of the franchises. 

The franchises are struggling to bring in the big names of overseas cricketers since the schedule clashes with two other leagues—SA20 and ILT20. It also clashes with Big Bash. 

Tamim’s Barishal also suffered this fate as West Indian Kyle Mayers left them in the middle of the tournament to join his team in the ILT20. 

According to the BPL rules, a team must field at least two and a maximum of four overseas players in the eleven. 

Tamim thinks that the number of overseas players is decent, but he wants a change in the scheduling. 

‘I think the first edition of the BPL was held in October-November if I’m not wrong,’ Tamim told reporters after their match against Dhaka Capitals on Wednesday night. 

 ‘I think that’s a better time to do it. Then you won’t clash with two major leagues—SA20 and ILT20. Then you will get the better players. We should always go back to that schedule. BCB may consider it.’

According to Tamim, the quality of cricket will improve if the number of teams decreases.

He said, ‘I think four overseas players is a decent number. But you can think about the number of the franchise. If you see, there are a lot more players in Pakistan than us. But when the PSL started, it started with five franchises. That’s why the cricket quality is very good. Then it gradually increased.’ 

‘We started the BPL with eight or seven teams. Cricketers may complain that if there are more teams, then the local players will get more opportunity.

‘But on the other hand, the competition will also increase. The hunger will grow to perform in the domestic and the NCL to ensure getting a team in the BPL. In my eyes, there shouldn’t be more than six teams; five is better, but the maximum number can be six,’ added Tamim. 

The ongoing BPL has created a number of controversies. The non-payment issue of the players has been in the centre stage. 

Tamim warned the BCB that they have to be careful about this matter. 

‘See, I want BPL to gain fame. But BCB has to be very careful about it. There's nothing to do about what’s happening mid-tournament. You’ve got to be extremely careful about whether you’re giving the franchise or not. So that the payment issue doesn’t come,’ he said.

‘I hope it won’t happen and they’re trying to solve it. Not only does this bring disrepute to the BPL, but a bad message is passed about our country. Because there are lots of overseas players who are willing to come, but these things create problems. The most important thing is to choose the franchises carefully,’ added Tamim.