The 11th edition of the National School Cricket Tournament, sponsored by Prime Bank PLC, is set to commence on Friday, 10 April, marking another major chapter in Bangladesh’s grassroots cricket development programme.
This year’s competition will feature participation from over 350 schools across 64 districts, involving more than 8,500 young cricketers. A total of 651 matches are scheduled to be played throughout the tournament, underlining the scale and growing reach of the event.
The opening phase will begin with district-level fixtures, after which successful teams will progress to divisional rounds before ultimately reaching the national stage. The structure is designed to ensure wide participation while maintaining a clear pathway for emerging talent to advance through competitive levels.
A jersey unveiling ceremony for the tournament was held on Thursday, 9 April, at the media centre of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The event was attended by senior representatives from both the sponsor and the cricket board, alongside national cricket figures.
Representing Prime Bank PLC were Additional Managing Director Md Nazim A. Chowdhury and Senior Assistant Vice President and Head of Brand & Communications Syed Raihan Tarik. From the cricket board, former captain and chief selector Habibul Bashar, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and national team star Towhid Hridoy were present at the ceremony.
Since its inception in 2015, the tournament has evolved into one of the largest school-level cricket competitions in the country. Over the years, a total of 3,507 schools have taken part, with 6,195 matches played across various stages. In total, 76,235 school cricketers have participated, making it one of the most extensive talent development platforms in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket structure.
The organisers also continue to invest in youth development through scholarships. At the end of each season, the best 15 players are selected for educational and cricketing scholarships based on the recommendations of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s age-group selectors. This year, however, the number of scholarship recipients has been increased to 25, reflecting the growing emphasis on nurturing emerging talent. The annual scholarship amount has also been doubled from BDT 60,000 to BDT 120,000 per player.
Tournament Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Participating districts | 64 |
| Participating schools (this year) | 350+ |
| Total players (this year) | 8,500+ |
| Scheduled matches (this year) | 651 |
| Total schools since 2015 | 3,507 |
| Total matches since 2015 | 6,195 |
| Total players since 2015 | 76,235 |
| Scholarship recipients (previous) | 15 players |
| Scholarship recipients (current) | 25 players |
| Scholarship amount (previous) | BDT 60,000 |
| Scholarship amount (current) | BDT 120,000 |
With its expanding scale and structured pathway, the National School Cricket Tournament continues to serve as a vital pipeline for future stars of Bangladeshi cricket, bridging school-level enthusiasm with professional opportunity.