The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced the full schedule for the 28th National Cricket League, with the first-class season beginning on October 3 and ending on November 17.
Eight divisional teams will play seven rounds in the four-day competition. Each team will face the other seven sides once, with the team finishing top of the points table crowned champions.
Defending champions Rangpur Division begin their title defence against Dhaka Division at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
The other first-round fixtures see Khulna Division face Barishal Division at Khulna Divisional Stadium, Sylhet Division meet Mymensingh Division at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, and Chattogram Division take on Rajshahi Division at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium.
BCB will use eight venues during the tournament. Alongside the four main grounds in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna, matches will also take place at Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground, Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura and the Cox’s Bazar Academy Ground.
The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium will host four matches.
The ball will also change this season. After using Duke balls in recent editions, the NCL will return to Kookaburra balls for the new campaign.
The switch brings back the ball used in previous editions of Bangladesh’s first-class competition and adds another change to the domestic season.
BCB will also mark the start of the tournament with a special ceremony for the eight captains. Former cricketers who represented their respective divisions in the National Cricket League will present the captains with their baggy caps.
The 28th edition will run for almost seven weeks, with the final round scheduled for November 17.
With one division, eight teams and 28 matches on the programme, the NCL will again provide Bangladesh’s leading domestic first-class players with a sustained run of red-ball cricket.
