NCL squads finalised as national calendar squeezes star players

The squads for the 2026-27 National Cricket League (NCL) have been finalised, but Bangladesh's increasingly crowded international calendar is set to limit the availability of national team players for the country's premier first-class competition.

The eight-team tournament will begin on October 3 and run until November 17, with the packed schedule leaving little room for several established cricketers to feature regularly in domestic cricket.

Players involved in Bangladesh's ongoing Asian Games campaign are unavailable for the opening phase, while members of the Test squad preparing for the one-off match against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates have also been left out of the NCL squads.

Bangladesh's international commitments will continue throughout the domestic competition. The Afghanistan Test is scheduled for October 9-13, followed by a T20I tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in the UAE from October 17-23.

A two-Test home series against the West Indies begins on October 28, before Bangladesh travel to South Africa, where the first Test is scheduled to start on November 15.

The overlapping assignments could make it difficult for national team regulars to maintain a consistent presence in the four-day competition, which remains an important platform for developing red-ball skills and assessing players beyond the international squad.

The NCL will feature eight divisional teams competing across seven rounds. Defending champions Rangpur will face Dhaka in the opening round, while Sylhet take on Mymensingh, Khulna meet Barishal and Chattogram play Rajshahi.

With several international assignments scheduled during the league, opportunities are expected to open up for emerging players and those seeking to strengthen their claims for national selection.

The challenge for the organisers will be to keep the competition meaningful while Bangladesh's international commitments continue to dominate the calendar.

Squad
Barisal Division: Iftekhar Hossain Ifti (captain), Jawad Abrar, Md. Rafsan Al Mahmud, Md. Salman Hossain Emon, Obi Ahmed Noble, Hafizur Rahman, Abdullah Shifat, Md. Shamsul Islam Anik, Md. Tanvir Islam, Moin Khan, Moinul Islam, Mozammel Hasan Shakil, Touhidul Islam Russell, Md. Shahidul Islam, Ruel Mia.

Chattogram Division: Irfan Shukkur (captain), Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Sadiqur Rahman, Shamim Patwary, Tasamul Haque, Sabbir Hossain Sikder, Hasan Murad, Ashraful Hasan Rohan, Md. Rubel, Ahmed Sharif, Fahad Hossain, Irfan Hossain, Enamul Haque Ashiq, Md. Shah Paran Sohel.

Dhaka Division: Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan Ankon (captain), Jisan Alam, Marshal Ayub, Naim Sheikh, Ashikur Rahman Shibli, Arif Ahmed, Taibur Rahman Parvez, Yasin Hossain, Aminul Islam Biplob, Enamul Haque, Sumon Khan, Anisul Islam Emon, Salauddin Shakil, Ripon Mondal, Toufiq Ahmed.

Khulna Division: Mohammad Mithun (captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Afif Hossain, Azizul Hakim Tamim, Kalam Siddiqui Aleen, Samiun Bashir Ratul, Imranuzzaman, Nahidul Islam, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Tipu Sultan, Rakib Howlader, Safar Ali, Abdul Halim, Mehedi Hasan Rana.

Mymensingh Division: Rakibul Hasan (captain), Abdul Majid, Md. Fahim, Rony Chowdhury, Md. Al Amin, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Munim Shahriar, Khalid Hasan, Mahfizul Islam, Ariful Islam, Ariful Hakim Rony, Abu Haider Rony, Asadullah Hill Ghalib, Al Amin Hossain, Rizan Hossain.

Rajshahi Division: Pritom Kumar (captain), Sabbir Rahman, Meherb Hasan Ohin, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Sabbir Hossain, Nayeem Ahmed, Shakhir Hossain Shuvro, Sanjamul Islam, Nihaduzzaman, Wasi Siddique, Rahim, Ekramuzzaman, Shafiqul Islam, Ali Mohammad Walid, Mohar Sheikh Antar.

Rangpur Division: Akbar Ali (captain), Anik Sarkar Setu, Zahid Javed, Nobin Islam, Alauddin Babu, Mim Mosaddek, Abu Hashim, Sadhin Islam, Iqbal Hossain, Mahmudul Hasan Limon, Hasibul Hossain Siam, Abdullah Al Mamun, Mehedi Hasan, Chowdhury Md. Rizwan, Shahriar Al Amin.

Sylhet Division: Zakir Hasan (captain), Amite Hasan, Touhidul Islam Ferdous, Ashraful Hasan Riyad, Mubin Ahmed Dishan, Saikat Ali, Tanvir Hossain Sajeeb, Asadullah Al Ghalib, Shahanur Rahman, Nayeem Ahmed, Nabil Samad, Naeem Hossain Shakib, Tofail Ahmed Raihan, Mohiuddin Tarek, Anik Deb Barma.