NCL in for changes
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesig...php?nid=101840
A reduced number of matches is one of wholesale changes set to be made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as the governing body looks to overhaul the country's lone first-class competition; the National Cricket League (NCL).
The new format is expected to be finalised today when the domestic cricket calendar for the 2009-10 season will be placed before BCB's board of directors for approval.
With a target to make the meet more competitive within a reasonable expenditure, the tournament committee has proposed a new format for the longer-version meet, which will kick off from the last week of December this year.
And the most significant changes is that the NCL has shifted from league format to a cup format with semifinals and final, the latter of which would be a five-day affair. The number of matches will reduce to 22 from 33.
There would be no home and away basis competition as only three matches is likely to be held in Dhaka while the rest of the matches will be take place out side Dhaka.
"We are also planning to bring changes in the team selection policy as there is no point to impose the teams (by national selectors) on the divisions from BCB rather they have to have their own choice for better competition," said BCB's director and cricket operations committee chairman Enayet Hossain Siraj yesterday.
The one-day competition of the NCL is scheduled to start from February 22 next year and all 22 matches will be held in Dhaka while this season the National Cricket League T20 competition is included which will be held in Dhaka during March 30 to April 13 next year.
The cricket season will start with the First Division League (October 9 to November 30). The First Division T20 League is slated for December 1 to December 15.
The most coveted domestic competition, the Premier Division Cricket League will kick off with the T20 version from October 10 to October 18 while the one-day competition is scheduled for October 23 to December 15.
According to the new calendar, the Inter District Cricket Championship one-day matches will be held in nine venues outside Dhaka from February 2 to March 6 while the Club Cup Championship with the district club cricket league champions will be held in 12 venues outside Dhaka from April 16 to May 15, 2010.
A slot has also been allotted for the second version of the Port City T20 League from March 27 to April 7. The venue is yet to be confirmed but the port city organisers are planning to arrange it in Dubai.
There are also Independence Day and Victory Day matches along with the Dhaka 2nd Division Cricket League (December 18 to January 31), Dhaka 3rd Division Cricket League (December 18 to January 31), Dhaka 3rd Division Qualifying (March 6 to June 10).
BCB's women's wing committee will arrange Women's National Championship (district tournament) from October 9, Women's National League (divisional) from January 10, Women's Club Cup tournament (Dhaka metro clubs) from March 10 and Girls School Cricket Tournament (Dhaka Metro) from December.
On the other hand, under BCB's game development committee the competitions are Young Tigers Dhaka Metro Zonal U-14 Competition-Phase-2 (October-November), Young Tigers Divisional Competition-Phase-2 (December-January), Young Tigers U-14 National Competition-Phase-3 (January-February), Standard Chartered Young Tiger School Cricket Under-16 programme (October-March), Young Tigers U-18 Divisional Cricket Competition- Phase-2 (December-January) and Young Tigers U-18 National Competition-Phase -3 (March).