Two tiers in NCL from next season

The National Cricket League will enter a new era from the 2015-16 season when promotion and relegation will be introduced in Bangladesh's biggest domestic first-class competition, the BCB has announced.

The top four divisional sides from this year's competition will play in the first tier while the bottom four will take part in the second tier from next season. One team from each tier will gain promotion and relegation. Since its inception in 1999, there was no promotion or relegation in the NCL.

"The reason behind the change of format is to make the league more competitive and attractive," AJM Nasir Uddin, the BCB vice-president, said. "The prize money will be higher from next year too. First-tier champions will get Tk 20 lakh (approx. $25,600) while second-tier champions will get Tk 5 lakh. It will be played under home-and-away method, though this year it will be single league."

The decisions were made at the BCB's tournament committee meeting on Monday, also attended by the general secretaries of all the divisional sides. It was also decided that this season's matches will be held in Mirpur, Fatullah, Chittagong, Bogra, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Rangpur.

Nasir also informed that the 30-member preliminary squads of each divisional side will be picked based on previous season's performance. "The national selectors will cut the squads to 18 players after discussions with the divisional sports associations. The players who will be cut from one preliminary squad can be picked by another division."