Second Division League kicks off Tuesday amid 12-team boycott

The Dhaka Second Division Cricket League 2025–26 faces a troubled start, with at least 12 clubs set to boycott the competition across four venues on Tuesday, echoing the turmoil in the First Division.

On Monday, captains from 12 clubs attended the trophy-unveiling ceremony in front of the National Cricket Academy in Mirpur. Also present on the occasion was Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Faiazur Rahman, also the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee and senior vice-chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM).

Opening-day fixtures see Azad Sporting Club facing Progoti Sheba Sangho in Keraniganj, Mirpur Boys Cricket Club taking on Rayerbazar Athletic Club in Purbachal, Indira Road Krira Chakra meeting Mohammadpur Cricket Club in Narayanganj, and Dhaka Wanderers Club playing Bangladesh Boys Club at BKSP–4.

Many matches, including the next eight fixtures, are likely to be affected as half of the participating teams may not turn up. Teams that appear will receive walkovers if opponents fail to show, while matches will be abandoned if neither side appears.

“There are 12 confirmed teams. There is a slight possibility of a 13th joining,” a CCDM official told The Daily Star. “The league will follow the same system as the First Division. Regarding relegation, teams failing to appear in the first round will be relegated.”

The First Division Cricket League saw a similar boycott, with eight of 20 clubs protesting over concerns about the cricket board’s legitimacy, alleged election irregularities, and other unresolved grievances.