NCL puts fitness on a more regular track

Fitness is being given a more permanent place in Bangladesh's domestic cricket structure as the Bangladesh Cricket Board prepares for the new National Cricket League season.

Around 150 players took part in the first phase of fitness testing in Dhaka on Tuesday, with the second phase following on Wednesday. The tests are part of preparations for the four-day NCL, which begins on October 3.

The bigger change, however, is not the test itself but the plan behind it.

The BCB now wants domestic players to undergo fitness assessments twice a year, giving the board a more regular picture of their physical condition rather than checking them only before a major competition. Players were required to complete a 1,600-metre run. Fast bowlers had a seven-minute benchmark, while batters were given seven minutes and 20 seconds.

Those who fail will not immediately lose their opportunity. The BCB plans to provide another test after 10 days, followed by another opportunity 10 days later if necessary.

Trainer Iftekhar Ifti said the coaching and training staff would work with players who struggle to meet the standard, rather than treating the test simply as a pass-or-fail exercise.

That approach reflects a wider shift in domestic cricket. With the NCL expected to play a larger role in preparing players for longer-format cricket, physical conditioning is increasingly being treated as part of player development.

Diet has also been identified as an area requiring attention, particularly when players travel for matches. Ifti said fatigue and poor food habits can affect players' fitness during competitions. The policy could eventually create a more consistent fitness baseline across the domestic pool, while giving coaches and selectors clearer information about players' physical readiness.

For the NCL, therefore, the fitness test is becoming more than a pre-season hurdle. It is being positioned as part of a longer system designed to keep domestic cricketers physically prepared throughout the year.