Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is all set to launch NCL T20 with new enthusiasm in a bid to pave a platform for the local players to hone their skill for the shortest format of cricket. The demand for organizing a T20 tournament sans Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been long cherished. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the BCB responded to this demand by vowing that the tournament will be held every year ahead of the BPL. The NCL T20 will be modeled after the National Cricket League (NCL), which is a first-class tournament. The tournament is scheduled to start on December 11 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Like the NCL, the remaining seven divisions, except Mymensingh, will participate in the T20 version along with Dhaka Metro. Each team will face each other in the league phase, with all matches in this phase held in Sylhet. Thereafter, the playoffs and final will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The logo unveiling and sponsor announceme nt ceremony for the NCL T20 was held at a local hotel in the capital today. Al-Arafah Islami Bank was named the platinum sponsor of the tournament, while Lily Moisturizing Lotion was announced as the silver sponsor, and Walton as the gold partner. The tournament will be named Al-Arafah Bank NCL T20 powered by Walton. To add glamour to the event, film stars Siam Ahmed and Amin Khan were present along with officials from BCB and sponsor companies. All matches of the NCL T20 will be broadcast on the country's only sports channel, T-Sports, allowing viewers from all over the world to watch, the organizers stated. BCB President Faruque Ahmed has vowed to organize this T20 tournament regularly, with participation exclusively from local cricketers from now on. "After taking charge, we have decided to organize at least one T20 format tournament apart from the BPL. From now on, the tournament will be ahead of the BPL every year where only local cricketers will participate," Faruque said. "We always say that if local and foreign players play together, they will share the dressing room and learn something. But the preparation before playing with those foreign players will be taken very well through this tournament." Managing Director and CEO of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Farman R Chowhdury, also spoke on the occasion, stating: "We have sponsored in other federations after perceiving the importance of sports. In line with that, we have involved with cricket. There is no hesitation to say that cricket is the most popular game in this region, so we are happy to be associated with the BCB."
