Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday decided to construct an international cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the capital’s Purbachal within the next three years, reports the UNB.

The decision was taken at the fifth meeting of the Board of Directors with Board President Nazmul Hasan Papon in the chair.

In the meeting, the board expressed gratitude to Hasina for allocating 37.49 acres of land in Purbachal for the new state of the art cricket stadium complex. The shape of the stadium would be like a giant boat. Interestingly 'boat' is the party symbol of rulling Awami League.

The Board has decided to invite an EOI for the consultancy of Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium project. A project implementation committee will be formed to oversee the construction, expected to be completed in three years.

Meanwhile, the board decided to include 17 cricketers in the national team contract for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2019. Papon announced the names after the board meeting at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Left-handed opener Imrul Kayes, who was overlooked last year due to poor performances, has been included in the contract under grade A. But Nazmul Hossain Shanto, the left-handed batsman, lost his place due to poor performance.

Abu Hider Rony, Nayeem Islam, Mohammad Saif Uddin and Khaled Ahmed found places in the central contract under the Rookie grade. With them, the number of players under the Rookie grade reached five as Abu Jayed Rahi remained in this category from the last central contract.

There were 13 players in the last central contract in 2018. But now, BCB included four more players.

Players in the new central contract: (A+ Grade): Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, (A Grade): Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Imrul Kayes, (B Grade): Mominul Haque, Liton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, (Rookies): Abu Jayed Rahi, Abu Hider Rony, Saif Uddin, Nayeem Hasan and Khaled Ahmed.