Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Mustafizur Rahman turn down offers to play in CPL

Bangladesh  Cricketers Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mustafizur Rahman have opted not to take part in this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which commences on the 18th of August. The trio have cited different reasons for the same.

The entirety of the CPL will take place in Trinidad this year, with the approval of the same given by the local Sport and Youth Affairs.

Tamim Iqbal, who played for the St. Lucia Zouks in the inaugural edition of the CPL, cited the Dhaka Premier League coinciding with the T20 League and the issues with travelling as reasons for his decision. He said, “I decided not to accept  the offer firstly because of my commitment to Dhaka Premier League, which was suspended after the first round in last March due to COVID-19 pandemic. It may resume any time and we are all waiting for it. There is also the another issue with travelling. Due to the COVID-19 there is lot of restriction on travel and the route to West Indies is very long. Say I make it to the islands but there is an emergency in my family, I will not be able to return easily. I do not want to take that risk.”

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“One of the CPL teams approached me, but our domestic competition, the Dhaka Premier League, could start any time, and it will likely clash with the CPL, that’s why I decided not to go,” he added.

Middle order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad, who played for Jamaica Tallawahs in 2017, said, “I was very close to signing with one of the teams but my family is my main concern, and they are also worried about me traveling during this time. I have played in the CPL previously and have always enjoyed my experience there.”