Bangladesh’s Third Division qualifying tournament is entering a new phase, with the competition switching from one-day cricket to the T20 format and introducing an age limit aimed at identifying promising young players.
The tournament was formally inaugurated on Saturday in Dhaka, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seeking to give the competition a more prominent platform. The change in format is among the most significant developments this year, as players will now compete with a white ball in T20 matches instead of the red-ball, one-day format used previously.
The tournament has also been designed with a clearer focus on youth development. The BCB has set the maximum age for participating cricketers at 25, creating an opportunity for younger players to gain competitive experience while also putting themselves in contention for higher-level opportunities.
A key part of the initiative is the involvement of age-group selectors. BCB president Tamim Iqbal has instructed selectors associated with the national age-group teams to attend matches and assess players’ performances from the ground. The move is intended to help selectors identify players who show the potential to progress into Bangladesh’s age-group set-up.
The scale of the tournament is considerable. A total of 70 teams are taking part, providing playing opportunities for around 1,400 cricketers. The competition will feature 151 matches, with fixtures scheduled to be played at grounds in Dhaka and surrounding areas.
The 70 teams have been divided into 16 groups for the opening stage. Matches in the group phase will be played on a league basis, giving teams the opportunity to compete against others within their respective groups. The champions and runners-up from each group will progress to the last 32.
From that stage onwards, the tournament will move into a knockout format. The 32 qualifying teams will contest 16 matches, with the winners advancing to the next stage. The matches leading to the quarter-finals will also be decided on a knockout basis.
The final eight teams will reach the quarter-finals, where the competition will become increasingly decisive. Winners of the quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals, while the two semi-final winners will secure places in the final.
The format is therefore designed to combine a league-based opening phase with the pressure of knockout cricket later in the competition. For players under 25, the tournament offers not only an opportunity to compete but also a chance to attract the attention of selectors through consistent performances.
The Dhaka Cricket Committee of Metropolitan (CCDM), which is overseeing the competition, has said it aims to complete the tournament between 25 and 26 October. With 70 teams and more than 1,400 players involved, the event is set to provide a sizeable platform for emerging cricketers in Dhaka’s competitive domestic cricket structure.
The emphasis on T20 cricket, age eligibility and direct observation by age-group selectors reflects the BCB’s effort to use the qualifying competition as a pathway for identifying players who could develop further within the country’s cricket system.
