NCL commences on Monday

Regular domestic cricket in Bangladesh is finally set to return with the Bangabandhu 22nd National Cricket League (BNCL) starting on Monday. The oldest first-class cricket tournament of the country will be played across four venues and in two tiers. 

The resumption of the domestic competition will come as a relief to the local cricketers who have been desperate to go back to cricket field. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had suspended all cricketing activities in March last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The game had returned to the field by the end of last year with two pilot competitions- BCB President’s Cup and Bangabandhu T20-but NCL is the first regular competition to return to the field.

 BCB announced the schedule for the first two rounds of the competition through a press release on Sunday where the second round of the league is scheduled to commence from March 29.

In Tier 1 defending champions Khulna Division will face Sylhet Division at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. At BKSP Ground 3, Dhaka Division will take on Rangpur Division.

 At Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Tier 2 teams Rajshahi will take on Chattogram Division while Barishal Division will host Dhaka Metro.

Speaking about the selections of the team, leg-spinner Jubair Hossain Likhon missing out from the Dhaka Division squad for the first two rounds of the tournament has irked many in the cricket fraternity. The board and its decision makers often speak about the importance of developing and encouraging leg-spinners in the country but overlooking Jubair once again is yet another instance of not keeping to the statement.