Dhaka: In a new move by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the captains of the eight divisional teams received baggy caps at a special ceremony today ahead of the 28th edition of the National Cricket League (NCL), which begins on October 3. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the board has introduced the caps for domestic cricket in an initiative modelled on the traditional baggy cap associated with Test cricket. Former cricketers who represented their respective divisions in the NCL presented the caps to the eight captains at the ceremony at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Khulna captain Mohammad Mithun, Barisal captain Iftekhar Hossain Ifti, Mymensingh captain Rakibul Hasan, Sylhet captain Zakir Hasan, Rangpur captain Akbar Ali, Dhaka captain Mahidul Islam Ankon, Rajshahi captain Pritam Kumar Das, and Chattogram captain Yasir Ali Rabbi received the caps in different colours. The four-day tournament will feature eight divisional teams playing 28 matches across seven rounds. Matches will be staged at eight venues across the country, including the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, venues in Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna, Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, the Academy Ground of the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra and Cox's Bazar Academy Ground. Four matches are scheduled to be held in Mirpur. The BCB has also changed the match ball for this season, replacing the Duke ball used in recent editions with the Kookaburra ball. The tournament is scheduled to conclude with the final round on November 17.
