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BCB replaces Dhaka Metro with Mymensingh Division in NCL; introduces Kookaburra balls trial

Jatin

BCB has made changes in NCL [Source: @Joyerlorai/x.com]BCB has made changes in NCL [Source: @Joyerlorai/x.com]

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has shaken things up ahead of the upcoming National Cricket League (NCL) 2025, the country’s oldest first-class competition. In a major announcement on Wednesday, the board confirmed that Mymensingh Division will replace Dhaka Metro in this year’s edition, which kicks off on October 25.

A fresh face joins Bangladesh’s first-class circuit

As per a Cricbuzz report, this will be Mymensingh’s first-ever appearance in the NCL which will add a new flavour to the domestic red-ball setup. The decision was finalized during the BCB’s 20th Board meeting held on August 9 and officially confirmed this week.

“Consequently, the Dhaka Metro team will not be a participant in the upcoming competition,” the BCB said in an official statement.

Mymensingh’s inclusion adds a new chapter to Bangladesh’s domestic cricket map. The region has produced talented cricketers over the years and now the local players will finally get a shot at competing in the country’s top-tier red-ball tournament.

With eight teams participating, the addition promises to bring new rivalries and more opportunities for emerging players looking to push for national selection.

Kookaburra and Dukes to share the stage

The NCL this season will also see an interesting twist when it comes to the choice of cricket balls. In a move designed to help players adapt to international conditions, the BCB has decided that the first two rounds will be played with the Kookaburra ball while the remaining rounds will revert to the Dukes ball, the one used over the past three seasons.

The idea, according to the BCB’s Cricket Operations Department, is to help domestic players get comfortable with Kookaburra’s characteristics ahead of Bangladesh’s Test series against Ireland in November, where the same ball will be used.

Preparing for the red-ball challenge ahead

The timing of the switch couldn’t be better. Bangladesh are set to play two Tests and three T20Is against Ireland with the red-ball matches scheduled for November 11 in Sylhet and November 19 in Mirpur. The use of the Kookaburra ball in the early rounds of the NCL will give bowlers and batters a crucial feel of the conditions they can expect next month.

For the past three years, Bangladesh’s domestic structure has leaned on the Dukes ball to assist seamers and promote fast bowling but the BCB believes this hybrid approach will strike the right balance between domestic development and international readiness.