print icon
News

BCB to issue notice to Mohammedan club for bubble breach

Tuesday's hearing was attended by captain Shakib and the CCDM chairman among others

Mohammad Isam
Mohammad Isam
09-Jun-2021
The bubble breach involved Shakib Al Hasan, who captains Mohammedan Sporting Club in the DPL  •  Mohammedan Sporting Club

The bubble breach involved Shakib Al Hasan, who captains Mohammedan Sporting Club in the DPL  •  Mohammedan Sporting Club

The BCB has decided to issue a notice to Mohammedan Sporting Club about their June 4 biosecure bubble breach during the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, following a hearing held on Tuesday. The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) chairman Kazi Inam Ahmed said that Shakib Al Hasan, the club captain, was among those who attended the meeting.
"They acknowledged that there was a breach, and expressed their disappointment," Ahmed said. "BCB and CCDM are hopeful of conducting this tournament in a safe and secure manner. We have contacted all the clubs, and we will work continuously to maintain the bio-bubble. To prevent a breach like this, we will give notice to the Mohammedan club."
The incident reportedly took place last Friday when the Mohammedan club brought two net bowlers to bowl to Shakib at the indoor facility of the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which is also part of the BCB's bio-bubble. But the club didn't notify the CCDM even though they have claimed that both bowlers tested negative for Covid-19. An outsider was also seen taking selfies in the premises.
The CCDM's technical committee chairman Jalal Yunus, the BCB's chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury, CCDM chairman Ahmed and member secretary Ali Hossain, as well as the Mohammedan club officials, manager and captain Shakib were present during the hearing.
The BCB said before the tournament that any breach could mean a fine, a suspension, or even point deductions for the club. The board has spent more than Tk 7 crore (USD 825,230 approx) on the bubble by housing the twelve clubs and match officials in four separate five-star hotels in Dhaka.
After the National Cricket League was postponed in early April, the DPL, reduced to the T20 format, began on May 31. The tournament is taking place during the latest phase of lockdown, which began on April 5 in the country. Bangladesh is experiencing a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with 44 deaths and another 2322 positive cases reported in the last 24 hours.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84