Competitive but shady
Although followers of Bangladesh's domestic cricket are fewer in number than fans of the Bangladesh team in the international circuit, those who did follow local cricket were treated an action-packed and exciting 2018. Champions in all the major leagues -- the first-class Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) and National Cricket League (NCL) and the 50-over Dhaka Premier League (DPL) -- were decided on the last days of each competition.
Amid all the competitiveness and excitement, however, there were also some dark moments in the lower level domestic leagues with allegations of favouritism and biased umpiring that presented Bangladeshi domestic cricket in a negative light.
FIRST-CLASS COMPETITIONS
The first-class leagues were played with high intensity and were competitive. South Zone clinched a record third and fourth BCL title this year and displayed some brilliant individual and team performances.
"I think this season we had an even contest for the fast bowlers as well as the batsmen in first-class competitions. There were quite a few green-top pitches which saw fast bowlers getting a lot of purchase and also bowl longer spells. At the same time it was also a good experience for our batsmen to play on such pitches, which will help them in the coming days. We are hoping to continue providing such opportunities in first-class competitions," national selector Habibul Bashar told The Daily Star yesterday.
However, there were questions over the players' interest to take part in first-class competitions. The BCB is looking to continue a strict approach about the regular participation of the national players.
The highlight of the sixth edition of the BCL were two South zone veterans -- Tushar Imran and Abdur Razzak. Tushar became the first Bangladeshi batsman to reach 10,000 runs first-class runs while left-arm spinner Razzak became the first Bangladeshi to take 500 first-class wickets.
In the country's oldest first-class competition, the NCL, Rajshahi Division clinched their sixth title chasing down 284 runs against Barishal Division in the last game on November 8. Dhaka Metropolis opener Shadman Islam was the highest run-getter with 648 runs, including two tons and three half-centuries. After becoming first Bangladeshi to have scored 10,000 runs, Tushar also became the first to 11,000 runs while playing for Khulna Division in the NCL. Chattogram Division's young off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who became the youngest ever debutant to take a five-wicket haul in Tests, ended up as the highest wicket taker with 28 wickets.
South Zone continued their BCL dominance to clinch their fourth title in the 2018/19 season with a nine-wicket win over North Zone on December 27. Anamul Haque finished as the highest run-getter with 658 runs while skipper Razzak ended as the highest wicket-taker with 34 wickets.
DHAKA PREMIER LEAGUE
The only 50-over domestic tournament of the country, Dhaka Premier Division has always been the most awaited and important league of Bangladesh. After an action packed battle between the twelve teams it was Abahani Limited yet again who clinched their 19th title, which was decided in the last Super League match on April 5. The 94-run win against Legends of Rupganj ensured that Abahani maintained their status as the most successful domestic cricket team under inspirational skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. It was Mashrafe who led Abahani from the front and ended as the highest wicket-taker with 39 scalps. Abahani opener young Nazmul Hossain Shanto led the run charts with 749 runs at an average of 57.61, hitting four hundreds and two fifties along the way.
Agarani Bank Limited and Kalabagan Krira Chakra were the two teams relegated from the DPL in 2018.
Here too a cloud emerged with some players' non-payment despite the player-by choice system being implemented to supposedly prevent the issue. Kalabagan players had to meet with BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury over their unpaid salaries from the club after the league.
LOWER LEVEL LEAGUES
Perhaps the controversies in the lower level leagues -- the first, second and third divisions -- has left the biggest scars on Bangladesh cricket in 2018. There were many allegations of favouritism from clubs and players. There was even an instance in the first division match between Old DOHS Sports Club and Agrani Bank Cricket Club on December 7, when the match was stopped for over 10 minutes while an official of Agrani Bank called the batsman on strike to the boundary to tell him to not score even a single of the four runs required to win. The batsman retired hurt in protest and the next batsman came in and played out six dot balls. According to a witness present at the ground who talked to The Daily Star, Agrani Bank officials had told the batsman that if he does not lose this game the top authorities will make sure that the team would be demoted to second division next season.
OLD DOHS eventually became champions and Partex Sporting Club finished runners-up and both were promoted to next season's Premier league.
The scenario in the third division was similar with many allegations. Bangladesh Police Cricket eventually ended as champions while Suritola Cricketers Club finished as runners-up and were promoted to the second division.
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