With an aim towards developing the game, the Bangladesh Cricket Board is looking to bring back the competitiveness factor in the first-class tournament, the National Cricket League (NCL).
It was learned that some of the board directors have proposed the participation of the top six clubs of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) in place of the divisional teams in the NCL to ensure the sincerity of the players in the five-day competition which is still known in many quarters as a ‘picnic tournament’. According to one of the directors requesting anonymity, the issue will be raised in the next board meeting this Tuesday.
Previously, six divisional sides took part in the NCL, however, the number of clubs was later increased to eight in order to improve the fortunes of the national side in the longest format of the game. Bangladesh have a painful record in Test matches as they have won only four games so far in 85 attempts.
However, the major stumbling block is likely to be the increased finances required to realise such a move. On the other hand it was not yet confirmed if the DPL clubs would agree to participate in the tournament as it would require them to spend extra money provided they were to take part in the first-class competition. The board director who requested not to be named also added that the final outcome is likely to depend on the agreement of the divisional teams of the NCL.
Meanwhile, it was also learned that in Tuesday’s meeting, a proposal of arranging Twenty20 and 50-over tournament featuring the divisional teams will be raised.
