Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal emphasized that the primary aim of the newly introduced Game Development (GD) Trophy is to identify talented cricketers by giving them opportunities to compete against more experienced opponents. The 50-over tournament, featuring Bangladesh Under-23, Under-19, and Under-17 teams, is set to commence on August 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tamim Iqbal, while speaking at a press conference in Mirpur, stated, "The main objective of the tournament is to find and identify talent." The tournament format involves each of the three teams playing against the other two teams twice in the league phase, with the top two sides advancing to the final on September 9. Wins will be rewarded with two points, while a no result will earn one point.
The tournament will kick off with the Under-19s facing the Under-17s on August 28 at 9:30 am. Subsequent matches will see the Under-23s competing against the Under-19s on August 30, followed by the Under-17s taking on the Under-23s on September 1. The second cycle of matches will repeat the sequence, concluding with the final on September 9.
Tamim highlighted the importance of providing Under-17 players with opportunities to test themselves against older opponents. He mentioned that such exposure could help selectors determine the potential of young players. "If an Under-17 player takes three wickets or scores 50 against an Under-23 side, his confidence will increase significantly. It will also be a very good platform for us to identify whether he is ready for the next level," he noted.
Tamim acknowledged the challenges younger players might face when competing against Under-23 teams but stressed the significance of these challenges for talent identification. He explained that without such experiences, it would be difficult for the cricket board or selectors to recognize special talents among the players.
The BCB president also pointed out that young cricketers are often limited to age-group camps and competitions against players of similar levels, which restricts their opportunities to showcase their potential against stronger opposition. He expressed his intent to make such tournaments a regular part of the annual calendar and to introduce similar initiatives in women's cricket as well.
Tamim concluded by stating that while prize money and awards would be provided to appreciate players' performances, creating a competitive environment was the main focus. "Money is not very important to us. Creating the competition is more important," he asserted.