BCB seeks Walton support for franchise-based domestic cricket
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal has asked Walton to support plans to restructure the country's domestic competitions into franchise-based leagues and advance cricket's broader development.
Tamim made the proposal during a visit to Walton's corporate office in the capital on Tuesday (25 August), following Walton's invitation, according to a press release.
A high-level BCB delegation led by Tamim included Vice-President Fahim Sinha, Chief Executive Officer Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, Marketing and Commercial Committee Chairman Masud Uzzaman, and Vice-Chairman Asif Rabbani.
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The delegation met Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC Vice-Chairman SM Ashraful Alam, Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam, and other senior officials.
Following the meeting, Tamim described Walton as a leading electronics company and a long-standing supporter of Bangladesh cricket.
"Walton is closely associated with the country's cricket community. It has regularly sponsored domestic, national and international cricket events," he said.
Tamim said the BCB was working to restructure the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) and National Cricket League (NCL) into franchise-based competitions modelled on the Bangladesh Premier League.
He added that the plan would cover longer-format, one-day, and T20 cricket.
"We hope Walton will extend its cooperation and continue contributing to the overall development of cricket," Tamim said.
He added that the BCB expected Walton to take part in the proposed franchise-based tournaments by fielding a team.
Walton Hi-Tech Vice-Chairman SM Ashraful Alam said the company aimed to establish Bangladesh as a global hub for electronics and technology products while developing Walton into a leading international brand.
Walton's brand operations have expanded to 55 countries, he said.
Ashraful said Walton had supported domestic, national, and international cricket, as well as other sports, since its inception, and assured the BCB president that the company would continue its sponsorship activities.
Walton Hi-Tech Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam welcomed the BCB's plan to introduce franchise-based BCL and NCL competitions and assured the board of the company's full cooperation.
"Walton has sponsored domestic, national and international cricket for more than a decade. Wherever the Bangladesh national cricket team plays, Walton is there," he said.
Walton has sponsored 13 consecutive editions of the Dhaka Premier League and the National Cricket League. It also held the Central Zone franchise in the first-class Bangladesh Cricket League for nine consecutive years.
