The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) has revealed that the upcoming edition of the First Division Cricket League is set to kick off on November 18. However, dissatisfaction looms among several participating clubs as their request to postpone the league has been disregarded by CCDM.
A meeting was convened by CCDM with 20 first division clubs on October 22, with all but three clubs in attendance. The announcement was made that this year’s first division league would commence early in November, a departure from the customary sequence of starting with the third division league.
Ziaur Rahman Topu, the cricket secretary of Amber Sporting Club, a first division team, expressed that the majority of clubs opposed the proposed schedule during the meeting. Topu highlighted the challenge of resuming play so soon after the conclusion of the previous league in March.
Faruque Ahmed, BCB vice-president, joined the meeting later and informed the clubs that the decision was made by the board. This led to Topu questioning the purpose of the meeting if their input was not being considered, prompting him to leave the meeting abruptly.
CCDM chairman Adnan Rahman Dipon countered by stating that most clubs had actually agreed to the proposed schedule. He emphasized the need for official communication from the clubs to align with the board’s decision.
Topu asserted that only clubs affiliated with the board’s directorship were inclined to participate, while others suggested a December-January timeframe for the league. Additionally, a collective of around 45 clubs from various divisions plans to address a letter to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul before the players’ transfer window for the first division league on November 5 and 6.