Rajshahi eager to get out of Tier 2

Fifth

It looks like an anomaly for Bangladesh's most successful first-class team to start in the second tier of the competition, but Rajshahi played poorly in the 2014-15 season, and will have to make do this season with not being in contention for the title.

For Farhad Hossain, Farhad Reza and Jahurul Islam, it will still be an opportunity to make it to next season's first tier in style. There will also be expectations from the likes of Mizanur Rahman, Delwar Hossain and Muktar Ali to keep the team balanced.

Mushfiqur Rahim will lead in the first game but, like all the other Bangladesh regulars, he cannot be expected to turn up for Rajshahi for more than a few matches.

Farhad Hossain has been one of the leading run-makers in Bangladesh's domestic cricket for nearly a decade but has never knocked the doors of the senior team hard enough. This season could be an opportunity for him to impress the selectors enough to get a place in the A team.

Touhid Tareq scored five fifties after being added late to the Rajshahi squad last season, and also did well for Surjo Tarun club in the Dhaka First Division Cricket League.

"We are understandably disappointed with last season but we hope to remain mentally strong and ensure Tier 1 next season."
Rajshahi batsman Farhad Hossain

Sixth

Sylhet won only one game last season but observers said they were a much-improved side, as reflected in the four drawn games they contested. More improvement is expected from a team that is steadily building on young talent.

The older hands of Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali and Enamul Haque jnr will still be expected to do most of the work, while the likes of Abu Jayed Chowdhury, Abul Hasan and Sayem Alam - Rajin's younger brother - are going to be eyed by scouts of the BPL, DPL and selectors for the Bangladesh A side.

Enamul Haque jnr is Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker at the first-class level and almost every season, he is among the top wicket-takers. The left-arm spinner last played Test cricket in 2013, but he can be expected to take another batch of wickets this season.

Abu Jayed is a 22-year old pace bowler who relies on seam movement and some swing. He is three wickets short of 100 first-class wickets and is a real below-the-radar performer at the domestic level because he is hardly regarded by the cricket authorities.

Seventh

Barisal are one of two teams not to have won a match last season. They usually suffer from a lack of players in the pipeline, though players like Shahriar Nafees and Sohag Gazi have regularly performed for them.

Barisal were happy with how they batted last year, with Nafees, Mosaddek Hossain and Fazle Mahmud having impressive seasons. Mahmud will captain the side in the absence of Kamrul Islam Rabbi, the young pace bowler who is likely to have Bangladesh A commitments. The return of left-arm spinner Monir Hossain, who is a Barisal stalwart, will help Gazi bowl with a bit more freedom, while Nasum Ahmed, the left-arm spinner, will be expected to do a holding role.

Nafees will bat with renewed vigor after doing well last season. He hasn't been on the Bangladesh team's radar for quite some time but like many of the senior players on the circuit, he will be expected to push for a place.

Fazle Mahmud is a useful all-round cricketer who opens the batting and bowls left-arm spin. He has the potential but has never really made a big splash in domestic cricket.

"We batted very well last season so we will hope to do better this season."
Shahriar Nafees.

Eighth

Chittagong finished at the bottom of the points table last season and have frustrated many with their domestic performances. They haven't done very well in terms of contributing players to the national side - after Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin, not one Chittagong player has gone on to play for Bangladesh.

There is hope, however, as many cricket academies are springing up in the port city. A good performance in the NCL can encourage local coaches and upcoming players.

Tasamul Haque, Irfan Sukkur and Nazimuddin did well with the bat last year while Iftekhar Sajjad was the only bowler to take more than 10 wickets in the season for Chittagong.

Tasamul Haque has been in the High Performance camp and is known to be a smart batsman. Last season, he was the team's top-scorer with more than 500 runs. He is, however, not a local player, as he hails from Dhaka.

Irfan Sukkur is a left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper. He performed well for the side last season, and is being seen as an important player in their bid to make it to the top.