Malan frustrated by limited chances in BPL but credits Bangladesh for career growth

Dawid Malan has expressed his frustration at not being included in the playing XI more often during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) campaign, but remains grateful to the country's cricket system for shaping his career.

Malan, who has retired from international cricket after playing 114 matches for England across all three formats, continues his career in franchise cricket.

Currently representing Fortune Barishal in the BPL, the 37-year-old reflected on his early playing days in Bangladesh, particularly in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) and BPL, which he credits for his development as a cricketer. He spoke to the media after a practice session in Chattogram.

"I am always grateful to the BPL, DPL, and Bangladesh cricket for giving me the opportunity to play and helping me improve. Without this support, I might not have become the player I am today," said Malan, whose experience in the competitive leagues of Bangladesh, alongside his time in the Pakistan Super League, helped him adapt to tough conditions and enhanced his game.

However, despite his gratitude, Malan is frustrated at his limited opportunities this season. "We have a really big squad; it feels like we've got fifty players. When you have so many players, it's tough to give everyone enough game time," he said. "I'm not going to be doing this for tournaments where you end up sitting on the bench. You sign up to play, not to sit out while others compete. That's the challenge in Bangladesh."

Malan explained how the competition for places in a strong team can lead to a lack of opportunities, but emphasised the importance of winning. "When you're part of a good team, there's naturally a lot of competition for places because there are so many quality players. That's just how it is when you're playing with one of the top sides. But at the end of the day, it means nothing if we don't win. Hopefully, we can keep winning and putting strong performances on the board."

The left-handed batsman, who made his international debut for England at 30, is no stranger to the high demands of franchise cricket, where balancing multiple leagues at once can be challenging. "It's frustrating, especially when there are opportunities to play in other leagues. If you want to attract the best players, they need to feel they'll get game time. Players don't want to be on the bench; they want to be out there playing," Malan concluded.