Bangladesh B.League launches live on Channel i

Bangladeshi football goes professional today with Abahani and Muktijoddha all set to make history as opponents of the B. League's opening match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Football was the most popular game in Bangladesh before cricket overtook it in late 1990s after the national team reached the ICB World Cup and was then elevated to test-playing status. Now Channel i will telecast the ceremony and the match live. The satellite TV channel, which holds the TV rights, will broadcast at least 40 matches live. The matchdays are Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday, The Daily Star confirmed.

The venues outside Dhaka are Chittagong -- home of local Abahani and Mohammedan -- and Khulna for their own Abahani. The Dhaka clubs are Muktijoddha, Abahani, Mohammedan, Brothers, Arambagh, Sheikh Russel, Farashganj and Rahmatganj. Gallery tickets will cost Tk 30 while VIP tickets will be sold for Tk 100 (Gate 3), Tk 60 (Gate 2) and women's gallery (Gate 10) for Tk 50. Women's tickets will be available at the entry while other tickets will be available at the stadium counters from 12 noon.