Bangabandhu T20 Cup to begin later this month

Cricket has returned after a long pause due to the coronavirus pandemic last month. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) organised a 3-team One Day tournament where Mahmudullah XI became the champions. 
BCB is now taking a step further and organising a T20 tournament later this month. Akram Khan, the BCB director and chairman of the cricket operations committee, today told the reporters that the tournament may start from November 21 or 22. The tournament will be named as Bangbabondhu T20 Cup. 
Akram Khan informed that the players' draft will probably take place on November 12 and around 160 players have been listed for the draft so far. Few things are yet to be finalised. 
Players will be divided into four categories - A, B, C, and D. 4-5 icon players will be in grade A and the rest will be among the other three categories. 
BCB is yet to finalise the price of the players in different categories. But it has been assumed that icon players will get 15 lakhs while the 'D' grade players will get a minimum of 5 lakhs for the tournament. Other prize money will be announced later. 
Akram was not quite sure about broadcasting but he hoped the matches would be telecast on TV. It could only be the final match on TV and other being live-streamed like the BCB President's Cup or it could be all the matches on TV as well. But as there are sponsors for this tournament, live telecast is a possibility. 
BCB is planning to involve local coaches in this tournament, said Akram. Along with the foreign coaches and staff, local coaches will have their part in the upcoming tournament and Akram believes this will help both parties. 
Players and staff will remain in the same hotel throughout the tournament. The players will have their fitness test on November 09.
BCB is hoping this local tournament will pave the way for the return of international cricket in Bangladesh. West Indies are scheduled to tour Bangladesh in January. Akram Khan said organising these tournaments successfully will give them the confidence to host an international tournament during the ongoing pandemic.