Time Sports Reporter: The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) began with peculiar time change just hours before the first match on Friday. Then it was followed by a low score as Chattogram Challengers was restricted to just 89 for 9 in 20 overs against Sylhet Strikers.

When Sylhet captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza came with Chattogram captain Shuvagata Hom for the toss, it was at 1:30 PM. The match timing had shifted to 2 PM from 2:30 PM, a decision that was announced in a media release only at 12:30 PM.

The BPL schedule had been announced on December 24 and according to that the time schedule for the first match on Friday was set to begin on 2:30 PM while the evening fixture was set to begin at 7:15 PM.

On weekdays the first match was set to begin at 2PM while the evening fixture was at 7:15 PM. Even yesterday, the time change had not been communicated.

At 12:30 PM a media release read that Friday's first match will begin at 2 PM while the evening fixture would start from 7 PM.

The weekday's first game will now start from 1:30 PM while the second will be played at 6:30 PM. BCB did not give any explanation as to why the times of matches were changed just two hours prior to the match. However, time change is part of parcel of previous BPL editions, mostly due to foggy conditions and BCB had changed start times after the tournament began.

Chattogram were not so lucky, struggling against Mashrafe and Co. after being sent in to bat. They produced the lowest total in a BPL opening fixture. The previous lowest was Rangpur Riders' score of 99 all-out in the 2019 edition of the tournament.

The ninth edition of the BPL had been preceded by criticism from ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who had remarked that the BPL had not been able to create brand value. However, a large part of the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla stadium was filled during the opening fixture with throngs of fans coming in to watch the premier T20 competition's opening match. Even though the tournament had appeared to induce heat before it began, the words of Shakib may have induced some momentum. Given the presence of fans this Friday, the BCB would hope the tournament now comes into life despite the low-scoring first game which Sylhet won by eight wickets with 10. 1 overs to spare. Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten on 43 off 41 deliveries. Zakir Hasan struck 27 while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on six as Sylhet won their first match handsomely.

SK