Tamim Iqbal announces 2nd XI Championship in NCL

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a leaf out of the County Championship book as their president Tamim Iqbal announced on Thursday that they are looking to introduce a 2nd XI Championship in the National Cricket League (NCL), the country's traditional first-class tournament, reports Cricbuzz.

The 2nd XI County Championship is a major English cricket competition for reserve teams of the 18 first-class county clubs, featuring matches in three-day and one-day formats, which serves as a vital pathway for young professionals and fringe players. It is understood that the BCB is planning to start the new tournament with the three-day format and later plan for expansion.

"If you look at the design of Bangladesh cricket, you will see that maximum cricket is centered around just one segment of players. Those who play for the national team are the ones playing BPL, BCL, and NCL. One segment of players are getting the chance to play 5-6 tournaments," Tamim told reporters on Thursday.

"But for those who play the third division, second division, or first division, there is no cricket for them other than playing those specific leagues. Because of this, there are very few instances in our cricketing history where a player has made it to the national team from the second or third division. This is because we could never create that platform," he said.

"So, we have all collectively made a decision and, Inshallah, we will start from this season.

"From now on, when the NCL starts, Chattogram will have two teams - First XI and Second XI. Dhaka will also have two teams. In this way, every team will have a First and Second XI", he said.

When we start the Second XI, you are basically engaging another 100-150 or 200 cricketers," he added.

"The advantage here is, for example, Dhaka is playing an NCL match, and two days later they have a game against Rajshahi. Suppose Rajshahi has four left-handed batsmen and Dhaka doesn't have an off-spinner in the team. What do we do then? We pick up an off-spinner from here or there and make him play. The term 'picnic cricket' arises regarding the National League. It's not just the cricketers, we are also responsible for that. Because we are the ones who created that culture. Now, no one will have to be picked up from their home; that off-spinner will be playing in the 2nd XI, and the first XI can give him an opportunity in the National League based on his performance," he said.

Tamim also said that the BCB will provide those in the 2nd XI the standard facilities and match fees, stressing that it was the board's responsibility to create the required competition.

Tamim also used the Jofra Archer case to elaborate on the perks of a fast-bowler returning from injury using the 2nd XI games to prove his fitness. "Let me give another example: when Taskin Ahmed gets injured, after returning from injury, we send him to a first-class match and tell him not to bowl more than 6 overs. Why should we have these rules and regulations in a first-class match? Taskin Ahmed will go to the second XI; there, he can do his buildup in a relaxed way. If you look at the example of Jofra Archer, after returning from injury, his first match was for the second XI," he said.

"These things we are doing are for the development of Bangladesh cricket. There will be elections in the future, and anyone might come in, but if we can leave this system established, I hope it will be good for Bangladesh cricket. From our side, we have completed the process and the budgeting," he said. Tamim added that they will have a 27000 square feet-canopy shade in the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city. He also said that the board is planning a solar panel in the stadium to save energy.