The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is considering to include foreign players in the National Cricket League (NCL), Bangladesh’s premier first-class domestic tournament.
Last year NCL had only local players to help them prepare for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The matches were held in two venues in Sylhet.
Cricbuzz reports that the BCB allowed foreign players in NCL in the past and it helped to grow the local cricketers, especially in the longer format of the game.
According to a BCB official involved in the league’s planning, they will seek board approval to allow NCL teams to include foreign players as they did in the past. He said the pitches now have more grass, which benefits fast bowlers. A strong foreign fast bowler will challenge local batsmen and help them to improve their skills.
Securing foreign players is not easy. Player availability is a big concern as many countries have their own domestic tournaments during the same period. For example, India’s Ranji Trophy and Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are around the same time. He said since Ranji Trophy and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are at the same time, they might have to look at players from other countries.
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The Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), a 50-over franchise tournament, is scheduled from December 4 to 10. The four-day format of the BCL will start in February after the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
In the previous NCL season, eight teams participated, including seven divisional teams and Dhaka Metro. Rangpur won the championship, defeating Dhaka Metro in the final.
This year’s NCL season is scheduled from September 14 to October 4 in three venues. If the BCB approves the change, this will be the first time foreign players will be part of Bangladesh’s first-class cricket in several years.
