Country’s longest running first-class tournament the National Cricket League has been brought forward from its scheduled date with the intention to get the Bangladesh cricketers ready for their two-Test series against Australia in October.
BCB tournament committee chairman Akram Khan informed of setting September 15-17, before the Eid-ul-Adha holidays, as the tentative date for the start of the 16th edition of NCL.
The tournament was initially planned in the first week of October, but the board decided otherwise after national team coach Chandika Hathurusingha requested for an early start to help the cricketers prepare.
“We want to start the NCL tentatively on September 15 or 17. During the last series (against South Africa) our coach (Hathurusingha) asked me to arrange one or two longer version matches, if possible, before the Test series (against Australia),” Akram said.
He added, “We have planned to put on sporting wickets because along with the NCL we also need to prepare our national cricketers for the home series.”
Australia are scheduled to set foot in Dhaka on September 28 with the first Test to be played in Chittagong from October 9. Dhaka will host the second game from October 17.
Meanwhile, the NCL this season will be played in a home and away format with the top four divisional sides featuring in the first tier and the bottom four in second tier.
The decision of adopting to the format was mainly made to increase the competitiveness in the tournament. According to the new format, the last team in the first tier will be demoted to the second tier and will be replaced by th etop team from the second tier.
BCB director Akram also said that the cricket board will receive the findings of the alleged fixed match between Rangpur and Dhaka Metropolis by the end of coming week. Khulna accused champions Rangpur and Dhaka for playing a fixed match that decided the title in favour of the Northern division.