New Beginning for Dhaka League, A Positive Step for Clubs and Cricketers

After weeks of legal disputes and heated discussions surrounding the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections, the newly elected board is set to begin a new chapter with the Dhaka First Division Cricket League. The election, which saw multiple controversies and conflicting court rulings regarding candidate eligibility, led to Tamim Iqbal’s BNP-backed panel withdrawing from the race and questioning the election’s legitimacy.

Following the election, Tamim’s faction even threatened to boycott the Dhaka League. However, the new BCB committee — through the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) — has announced that the new season will kick off with the First Division Cricket League, bringing some positive news for the participating clubs.

In a significant move, the BCB has decided to increase the financial incentives for clubs by 50 percent.

CCDM Chairman Adnan Rahman Dipon stated, “Previously, the participation fee for each club in the First Division League was BDT 9 lakh. This season, it has been increased by 50 percent, meaning each club will now receive an additional 4.5 lakh — totaling BDT 13.5 lakh. Along with that, each club will receive another 1 lakh for jerseys and backpacks, making it roughly BDT 14.5 lakh per club.”

At a meeting on Wednesday, 17 participating clubs attended discussions with CCDM officials. Dipon said the clubs had shown a positive attitude toward participation, “No club expressed unwillingness to take part. A few asked for some time, but overall, everyone is ready to play.”

He added, “Kathalbagan, Khelaghar, and Amber have shown interest in playing in January, while one club prefers December. The rest are ready to play as soon as the league begins. Those who couldn’t attend the meeting were absent due to personal reasons.”

The Dhaka First Division League is likely to begin in the second week of November, although the exact schedule is yet to be finalized. For the first time, CCDM also plans to introduce a fixed annual calendar for all Dhaka leagues to ensure better planning and structure.

Dipon explained, “We want clubs to know well in advance when each league will start. Officially, the league runs from October to June, but in practice, it often extends to April or May. Structural reforms are needed to expand this timeframe.”

Regarding venue preparation, the CCDM chairman confirmed that although five venues are required, seven have been prepared. These include Bashundhara, BKSP 1 & 2, Teghoria in Keraniganj, and Silicon Valley in Mohammadpur. BKSP grounds will be fully available after November 20.

While the CCDM initially considered launching the First, Second, and Third Division leagues simultaneously, the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) will not start immediately. The decision was made to avoid scheduling conflicts with the BPL, National Cricket League (NCL), and the national team’s fixtures. However, CCDM hinted that if the schedule permits, organizing the Premier League later in the season remains a possibility.