Bangladesh authorities decided to not extend the public holidays to contain the spread of the coronavirus. From 31 May, public and private offices will go operational on a limited scale. But there is still no sign of cricket to be resumed soon.

The Bangladesh cricket fraternity is waiting to secure a green signal from the government, said general secretary of Crickets’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh Debabrata Paul.

Right before the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League had taken the field in March but could not continue more than two rounds. Since then all of the cricketers are passing time at home.

“The authority decided to resume the essential service, and public transport is also set to be restarted on a limited scale. But we still don’t think the situation is fit to start playing cricket in Bangladesh again. We are waiting for the green signal of the government,” Paul told UNB on Saturday.

“We have to start our domestic cricket as soon as possible, but at the same time, we have to be cautious about the health of cricketers and the other stakeholders,” he added.

Not just domestic cricket, Bangladesh’s international schedule is also on hold as the tours of Pakistan and Ireland have been postponed indefinitely.

But it is domestic cricket that is the most important thing to start again, feels Paul. He said: “Most of our cricketers are dependent on their Dhaka League earnings. So whenever we get the situation right to start playing we have to start with Dhaka League. Bangladeshi footballers get chance to play in more than two leagues in a calendar year, but in cricket, we have only Dhaka League where most of our domestic cricketers get a chance to play and earn. We have to keep it in mind.”

Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, had also said the board is waiting for the government’s suggestion regarding starting the game of cricket in Bangladesh again.