Lahore Qalandars interested in joining Bangladesh Premier League, Samin Rana meets Tamim Iqbal

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars Chief Operating Officer Samin Rana has expressed interest in future investment in the Bangladesh Premier League and in joining it as a franchise.

He said that if a suitable business opportunity arises, he would like to be part of the event.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has postponed the next edition of the league to examine cases of financial irregularities. Board President Tamim Iqbal has also indicated on several occasions that foreign franchises meeting the set rules and conditions could be given a chance to join the league.

Meeting with Tamim Iqbal in Abu Dhabi

Samin Rana came to watch the tri-nation series match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday. He spent a considerable time with Tamim Iqbal there.

Speaking to the media, he said, “Bangladesh is very close to my heart. I have been looking for a long time for a chance to work with Bangladesh cricket in some capacity. If a suitable opportunity arises in future, the Qalandars will certainly consider becoming part of the BPL.”

He said that, given the exceptional passion for cricket in Bangladesh and Pakistan, opportunities could be explored to work together to help the league out of its difficulties. “If a way emerges that benefits all parties, we will take a keen interest in it,” he said.

Samin Rana said the talks with Tamim Iqbal included experiences of franchise cricket and improving the league’s system. He said, “We have been associated with the Pakistan Super League for the past 11 years, and have also taken part in South Africa’s Global League and various T10 cricket tournaments.”

He said, “We have also been in contact with Cricket Canada. During these experiences, we learnt a good deal about the administration, development and improvement of franchise cricket, which could also benefit the Bangladesh Cricket Board.”

He said Lahore Qalandars have recently signed an agreement with Guyana’s Ministry of Youth and Culture, under which players from there will come to Pakistan for training. Earlier, eight Zimbabwean players also spent six weeks at the High Performance Centre in Islamabad.

Samin Rana said, “We want young Bangladeshi cricketers to also come to Pakistan and benefit from modern training facilities, and for both countries to learn from each other’s experiences.”