Tamim opens Dhaka third division qualifying tournament

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Tamim Iqbal attended the grand opening ceremony of the Dhaka Third Division Qualifying Cricket Tournament 2025-26 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday, marking the start of another season of competitive club cricket in the capital.

Tamim met representatives of the participating teams and players at the ceremony and exchanged greetings with them before the tournament got underway. He also conveyed his best wishes to the players and teams for the competition.

The qualifying tournament provides a pathway for clubs competing outside Dhaka's top domestic divisions to move up the local cricket structure. The competition is being staged in the T20 format, with 70 clubs taking part.

The participating teams have been divided into 16 groups for the preliminary stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 32, after which the tournament will move into the knockout phase.

The competition will feature the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The champions and runners-up will earn promotion to the Dhaka Third Division Cricket League.

The tournament had been delayed from its originally planned schedule for the 2025-26 season. Its return provides an opportunity for a large number of club cricketers to compete in a structured domestic competition and push for progression within Dhaka's cricket system.

The opening ceremony also brought together players from the participating clubs, giving them an opportunity to meet the BCB president ahead of their campaign.

With a large field of clubs and a T20 format, the tournament is expected to provide regular competitive cricket for players seeking to establish themselves in Dhaka's club circuit.