The National Cricket League is the most prestigious domestic cricket tournament in Bangladesh. (NCL) 2025-26 The curtain fell on the NCL with a thrilling finale. After two long months of hard-fought battles, personal milestones and team strategy, the North Bengal representative had the last laugh. Rangpur DivisionThis is the 27th edition of the NCL, where the team led by Akbar Ali has proven its superiority.
Interestingly, just two months ago, this team also won the NCL T20 format. That is, Rangpur won this season in both the red-ball and white-ball formats. However, the most surprising aspect of this season is that no batsman from the champion team is in the top 20 list of the highest run-scorers of the tournament. On the one hand, while Soumya Sarkar, Zakir Hasan and Marshal Ayub While stars like Rangpur scored a flood of runs, Rangpur won with pure 'team game' or team effort. In this article, we will discuss in detail every detail of the NCL 2025-26 season, the statistics of the players and the secret of Rangpur's success.
NCL 2025-26: The story of Rangpur Division's double crown win
Cricket is essentially a team game, and this time National Cricket League It was as if that revelation had been proven true once again. Rangpur Division's title win cannot be called mere luck, but rather the result of their long-term planning and team coordination.
1. Akbar Ali's magical leadership
Under-19 World Cup winning captain Akbar Ali He once again proved how mature he is in leadership. Under him, Rangpur Division won the four-day match (First Class Cricket) title within just two months of winning the T20 format. As captain, he has led the team in a way where they did not have to rely on any particular star. Different performers have taken charge in each session, which has paved their way to becoming champions.
2. A champion beyond statistics
Usually, the batsmen of a tournament champion team are at the top of the run-scoring list. But in Rangpur's case, the opposite happened. NCL 2025-26 Rangpur has no batsmen in the top 20 of its batting charts. This is a rare occurrence in cricket history. This means that their bowlers have restricted the opposition to low runs and the batters have ensured the team's tally by making small contributions. Short innings, more for the team's needs than individual records, have made the difference at the end of the day.

Soumya, Zakir and Marshal Ayub are intoxicated at the Run Festival
While Rangpur was successful as a team, this year's NCL was full of stars in terms of individual performances. Batters who were both outside the national team and on the national team's radar got a great opportunity to shine.
1. Soumya Sarkar (top run-scorer) back in form
Been searching for my best form for a long time Soumya Sarkar He was excellent in this year's NCL. The left-handed batter, who played for the Khulna division, dominated the bowlers throughout the tournament.
- Matches and runs: He batted in 14 innings in 7 matches. 633 runs.
- Average and strike rate: His batting average is 45.21, which is quite respectable for a top-order batter.
- Innings Highlights: His highest score in the tournament is 186 runs. He has scored a brilliant century and four half-centuries. Soumya's form is certainly a relief for the national team selectors.
2. Zakir Hasan's regrets and continuity
Wicketkeeper batsman playing for Sylhet Division Zakir Hasan He lost the top spot by just 5 runs. However, his consistency was remarkable.
- Number of runs: He scored in 13 innings in 7 matches. 628 runs.
- Batting average: Although he has fewer runs than Soumya, he is ahead on average. Zakir has batted at an average of 57.09.
- Centuries and half-centuries: Along with a century, he scored five fifties, which proves his consistency in the tournament.
3. 'Run Machine' Marshal Ayub
One of the most trusted names in domestic cricket Marshal AyubWhat this experienced batter, who plays for the Dhaka Division, has done in this season is, in a word, incredible.
- Hat-trick of the century: He is the only batter who has hit a home run this season. Three centuries He laughed.
- Surprising average: Marshall averaged 625 runs in 12 innings in 7 matches. 62.50, which is the highest among the top run-scorers.
- Strike Rate: Batting at a strike rate of 58.41, he has proven that he is still unrivaled in classical Test batting.
Performance of National Cricket League rising stars and others
Outside the top three this time National Cricket League (NCL) It has witnessed the performance of several promising cricketers who could take the reins of Bangladeshi cricket in the future.
Pritam Kumar: Rajshahi's hope
To be in fourth place Pritam Kumar He has proved his mettle for Rajshahi Division. He has played in 7 matches. 574 runs He has scored two centuries and two half-centuries. His highest innings of 143 runs was one of the best innings of the season. A batsman like him in the middle order is an asset to any team.
Mohammad Naeem Sheikh: Aggressive opening
National team opener Mohammad Naeem Sheikh He played for Mymensingh Division. Although known as a T20 specialist, he has maintained his usual aggressive batting in four-day matches as well.
- Run: 547 runs in 12 innings.
- Strike Rate: A strike rate of 68.38 proves that he doesn't believe in wasting the ball.
- Best innings: He has made it to the top five after playing a brilliant innings of 111 runs.

Why is this season important for Bangladesh cricket?
National Cricket League 2025-26 The season was not just a tournament, it was a rehearsal for the future of Test cricket in Bangladesh.
Wicket improvement: This season, the batsmen have scored a lot of runs. This means that the quality of the wickets has been somewhat sporting, where the batsmen can score runs if they stay alive. Marshall Ayub's 3 centuries and Soumya's 186-run innings are proof of this. 2. Competition: The fact that the championship battle lasted until the final round proved that there was a balance of power between the teams. 3. A mix of young and experienced: The combination of the success of young captains like Akbar Ali on one hand, and the performance of veterans like Marshal Ayub on the other, will strengthen the pipeline.
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Conclusion
National Cricket League (NCL) 2025-26 The season will be a memorable chapter in the history of Bangladeshi domestic cricket. On the one hand, Rangpur Division has proven that cricket is a team game and team cohesion is much stronger than individual heroism. On the other hand, Soumya Sarkar, Marshal Ayub and Zakir Hassan They have shown brilliance with their bats, which could create a sweet problem for the national team selectors.
In particular, Rangpur's victory despite not having a single batsman in the top 20 has sent a new message to the strategy of domestic cricket. Akbar Ali's team has clearly demonstrated how important patience, proper bowling changes and fielding are in long-range cricket. It is hoped that the performers who emerge from this tournament will raise the flag of Bangladesh even higher in the international arena in the future.
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