Although there are still six matches and three days left, the trophies of the already-decided Bangladesh Premier League will be distributed today at the end of the first day's matches of the 22nd and final round at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Abahani clinched the title of the tenth edition of the top-tier professional league with a game in hand last week, beating title-rivals Sheikh Jamal 2-0.
Today's matches, which will feature the champions against Chittagong Abahani and the runners-up against Farashganj, will have no impact on the standings of the top two teams but may have big consequences on the fate of the other two.
Abahani, the now six-time champions, can finish the league with 54 points with a win today which will see them extend their winning streak to ten matches. On the other hand, a defeat may deny Chittagong Abahani, who had led the league table till the 17th round, even a third-place finish given Saif Sporting Club win their last match against Rahmatganj on Saturday.
A lot more is at stake for Farashganj, though, as they face relegation, being at the bottom of the table with 14 points, one behind Old Dhaka neighbours Rahmatganj. They will have to win or at least force a draw in today's match against Sheikh Jamal to have a chance of survival while hoping that Rahmatganj do not win their last match of the league.
Interestingly, there is a third team involved in the battle for survival. Muktijoddha Sangsad, who are on 17 points, might still go down if they lose their last match against Team BJMC tomorrow.
In case two teams finish at the bottom with equal points, playoffs will take place to decide which team goes down to the Bangladesh Championship League and which team stays up.
