The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has implemented stringent age and residency regulations for the upcoming 64-team National Cricket Championship to boost competitiveness, though the tournament's eve was marred by a road accident involving the Chandpur district team, reports UNB.
Beginning Sunday, the two-tier 50-over competition will restrict teams from fielding more than four players over the age of 30, a move designed to eliminate the casual participation of much older individuals and foster a stronger Under-23 development pipeline.
Additionally, teams will now be restricted to hiring a maximum of three players from outside their home district, reversing the previous trend where entire squads were often made up of non-local cricketers.
The board has noted they will consider exceptions for an extra over-30 player if districts can verify their superior quality over younger alternatives.
The tournament structure features two 32-team tiers, with a promotion and relegation system in place. Top-tier group winners will advance to a three-day competition in April 2026, while the bottom eight teams will face relegation.
To identify emerging talent, the board is deploying coaches across the 16 match venues for a dedicated scouting program. Top-level players not involved in the Bangladesh Cricket League one-day competition, such as Hasan Murad and Musfik Hasan, are also participating.
Despite the board's push for increased professionalism, basic logistical challenges remain glaring. Highlighting these infrastructural hurdles, a Chandpur district player sustained injuries in a road accident while the team was travelling precariously with their equipment in an auto-rickshaw just before the tournament.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
