Bangladesh national team selector Hannan Sarkar's tenure as a selector is set to end on  February 28 as he prepares to take the reins of Abahani Limited in the upcoming Dhaka Premier League as head coach.

Hannan has previously served as Abahani assistant coach and also served in the same role for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. He also served as Dhaka Metro coach in the National Cricket League; so coaching is not a completely new territory for Hannan.

Since the tournament gained List A status, Abahani have easily been the most successful club with five titles. They are also the winners of the past two editions, having built a strong unit with stars who regularly feature in the national team.

Hannan's task would be difficult even though Abahani have been a solvent team over the years. Last year, Abahani's budget stood at Tk 9.8 crore, higher than many franchise budgets in the franchise-based Bangladesh Premier League T20 competition. This year, the tournament is being played under a cost-cutting structure to reduce the burden on clubs. The players' transfer will be held from February 22-23, and the tournament is likely to begin on March 3.

Hannan informed that the players have made concessions to help make the tournament feasible.

"Our players have sacrificed a bit, since naturally, given how their contracts were in previous editions, they compromised since we all know the circumstances in the country. Even in the BPL, the senior players sat with the president and made a plan, and in the same way, the club and the players came to an understanding, and through that, the teams are being built. I would like to thank the players and everyone concerned since, in this scenario, the clubs went on the back foot and returned again to form the best possible side according to their abilities. There were financial issues, but through everyone's help, it was covered."

Abahani, too, have a new management and had to let go of quite a few stars, such as Taskin Ahmed, Towhid Hridoy and Liton Das. They, however, retained the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mosaddek Hossain, among others, and took on board Parvez Hossain Emon.

"I have had coaching experience, but it will be different as head coach this time around. I have served as head coach in first-class, but the challenge in the Premier League will be different. But I have senior players in the side and the national team captain with us, and definitely, when I plan with them, my task will get easier. Can't say too much in advance, but since Mosaddek [Hossain] has also captained, with the two of them, my task will be easier," he said.

The DPL will also be played this year without foreign players. Last year, the decision raised controversy, but cost-cutting schemes have seen the clubs come to terms with it in the second year.

"When there are foreign players, you will see that sometimes local stars do not perform. The quality of players that arrived in the last few years—considering that—our local players are not lagging behind much. You will also see that the maximum number of national team players will be available for the maximum period when the league is going on. So if the quality players in the country are there, then we will not feel the gap of no foreign stars playing this time around," he concluded.