BCB pleased with National League’s second XI tournament
Photo: BCB
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has successfully achieved its goal of introducing a second XI tournament in the National Cricket League (NCL), modeled on county cricket. Comments from players representing Dhaka and Khulna divisions in the final reflected the success of the initiative. They are delighted to have such a tournament. Without the National League’s Second XI tournament, they would have had to remain out of competitive cricket throughout this period.
Ahrear Amin Piyan returned after winning the Asia Cup with the youth team. However, due to a lack of consistency or opportunities, the middle-order batter had gradually lost his earlier form. He regularly played in the Dhaka Premier League and was also part of various BCB pipeline teams. However, he had not been getting opportunities to play red-ball cricket in the National League. Thanks to the Second XI tournament, he finally got the opportunity to play red-ball cricket this season. He also led his team. Piyan guided Dhaka to the final and scored a century.
Speaking about his experience of playing in the tournament, he expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I want to thank the BCB for giving us the opportunity to play. Otherwise, we would have had to sit idle during this period. I got to play several matches with the red ball, which is what any cricketer at any level wants. I have a lot of video footage. I can now work on those videos to improve myself. I would not have been able to do that without this tournament.”
Experienced all-rounder Robiul Islam Robi is a familiar face in Dhaka’s domestic cricket. However, he does not regularly get opportunities in the Khulna divisional team because of the presence of national team players. He therefore found a place in Khulna’s Second XI. The tournament has also been a relief for him.
He said, “I have my D-Three tournament coming up. But if this National League tournament had not been organized, I would have had to sit idle throughout the period before that competition. The BCB has no other matches scheduled. Moreover, our Khulna team is always crowded with national team players. So I get fewer opportunities. There have been instances when I scored a century in a match but still had to make way for Imrul Kayes or Bijoy. With the Second XI tournament, I have had the opportunity to play regularly in the National League.”
The BCB is pleased not only with providing players regular opportunities but also with the success of its initiative. Tournament Committee Chairman Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir said, “A total of 42 cricketers from the Second XI played in the First XI this season. This was possible because of their performances. They earned places in the main team through their own performances, which is exactly what the BCB wanted. We believe the tournament has been successful in this regard because it has created a competitive mindset among the cricketers. No one will feel that their place in the divisional team is secure. Someone else can replace them at any time.”
Sirajuddin said the BCB would try to organize the Second XI matches even better next year.
He said, “Next year, we will have access to grounds in Barishal, Khulna, Fatullah and Bogura. We will then be able to arrange for cricketers to play on better grounds and pitches. This will give another 120 cricketers the dream of playing in the tournament alongside the 120 players from the eight teams. They will not feel disappointed that only established players get to represent the divisional teams while they have no opportunities. If they perform well, they will also dream of earning a place in the main XI through the Second XI tournament.”
On Friday, Dhaka became the inaugural champions of the National Cricket League Second XI tournament after defeating Khulna by an innings and 35 runs in Purbachal. After bowling Khulna out for 137 in the first innings, Dhaka declared its innings at 324 for eight. Captain Ahrear Amin scored 159 runs, hitting 10 fours and nine sixes. Trailing by 187 runs, Khulna lost seven wickets for 56 in its second innings before Jawad Roen put up some resistance with a 76 off 85 balls. However, it was not enough to prevent defeat.
Left-arm spinner Yasin Hossain played a major role in Dhaka’s victory. He finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 47 wickets in 12 innings across six matches. He claimed eight wickets in the final.
Chattogram’s Irfan Sabri Takrir was the tournament’s leading batter. He scored 602 runs in 10 innings at an average of 60.20, including two centuries and three half-centuries.
