It goes without saying that domestic cricket is the talent pipeline for every cricketing nation. No amount of international coaching or exposure can compensate for a weak domestic structure. The leagues, tournaments, and academies at home are where future stars are shaped long before they wear national colours.
In Bangladesh, however, that foundation still needs to grow stronger. The pitches, facilities, and overall playing environment in domestic cricket are yet to match the international standard. Due to these reasons, many cricketers struggle when they join the national team, and they have to learn under pressure instead of being fully prepared.
For the sake of improving domestic cricket and the performance of international cricket, Bangladesh must invest in building quality infrastructures that develop young cricketers, care for professional cricketers, and enable frequent, high-standard preparation of all the stages of the game.
This transformation should start where every Bangladeshi cricketer's journey truly begins - the local grounds spread across the country, where dreams first take shape under the sun.
Many of these venues still lack reliable turf wickets, floodlights, or indoor practice spaces. Consistent turf wickets would help players learn to handle bounce and turn, similar to what they will encounter abroad. Modern floodlights would give players experience in white-ball conditions. And if proper indoor facilities were available, training could continue year-round, irrespective of the weather.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has a lot to learn from Cricket Australia, which made sure all states were equal long ago. Regardless of whether the player trains in Sydney or Perth, the facilities, coaching staff, and pitches are equal.
Bangladesh can follow this approach, making sure that the players around the country have equally quality facilities. This would raise the talent pool and reduce the disparities that could hold back growth.
While working closely with second-division club teams and cricket clubs at the district level, I have seen so much untapped potential at the grassroots level. Many of the players in their formative years train with so much passion, regardless of the sub-standard pitches and minimal facilities. Even slight adjustments like proper coaching, improved practice nets, or well-conditioned grounds will help a lot.
However, simply improving infrastructure isn't enough. The domestic leagues, built on that infrastructure, specifically the National Cricket League (NCL) and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), must also evolve. The NCL can serve as a training ground for red-ball cricket, helping players improve their technique and patience. Meanwhile, the BPL can focus on white-ball specialists.
However, even with these platforms, consistent quality has remained a challenge. Complaints about poor umpiring, erratic scheduling, and lackluster broadcasting have plagued these leagues for years. To improve their effectiveness, schedules need to be better. Overlapping tournaments tire players and lower the quality of competition. These leagues should be planned within the BCB's annual calendar to ensure they take place at the same time each year, allowing players the rest and preparation they need.
Professional officiating is also an essential piece of the puzzle. Investing in umpire training, regular evaluations, and new decision-review technology would improve the integrity of domestic games. Better TV coverage of BPL broadcasts and making leagues like the NCL available on various platforms can also raise the profile of domestic cricket, attract sponsors, and fill stadiums with more fans.
Beyond infrastructure and competition, the integration of data and technology in coaching is another key field. In this digital era, every cricketing nation utilises sports science to monitor workload, analyse movement, and prevent injuries.
Bringing these systems into Bangladesh's domestic cricket could change the way players grow. Biomechanics can spot technical flaws before they turn into bad habits, performance analytics can help players and coaches understand what's working and what's not, and sports psychology can strengthen the mind to match the body.
Establishing a central high-performance hub in Dhaka and supporting it with excellence centres in key cities would bring these tools within the reach of players around the nation. Universities and private tech businesses can be allied to introduce innovation at relatively reasonable cost, turning cricket development into a sport-science partnership.
At the end, improved facilities attract more matches and sponsorships, while consistent performances from the players enhance the nation's image in the world. International games, franchise competitions, or corporate matches staged in modern stadiums can generate high revenue. Furthermore, improved infrastructure prevents talented young players from being lost along the way due to inferior conditions or limited opportunities.
Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed is an experienced investment analyst and sports development professional. He is also an Assistant Professor of Finance at American International University, Bangladesh (AIUB).
siahmed@aiub.edu
