The necessity to go for guest players came as many of the national team players, having played their last matches in the league yesterday, will be featuring in the tour to the West Indies.

The CCL body earlier decided that only one foreign player per team would be permitted in the semifinals and the final of the Cup as well as Plate.

But now teams in bid to add some glamour and prestige have requested the introduction of foreigners much earlier.

"There is every chance that foreign players will be allowed from the second phase. We have agreed on this but the decision will be finalised in tomorrow's meeting," said a high official of the organising committee yesterday.

It was also understood that only foreign cricketers having first-class experience would be eligible to take part in the CCL.

Habibul Bashar's Tigers will leave for the Caribbean on May 6 to play three one-day internationals and two Tests against Brian Lara's men, who were recently trounced by England in the four-match Test series.

Dav Whatmore's boys have been given two day's rest before returning to the preparation camp on May 3.

Among the national cricketers, opener Hannan Sarker cut a sorry figure in the competition while the rest were hardly mediocre barring a few sparks here and there.