Sports Desk:

The Dhaka First Division Cricket League finally got underway on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, following weeks of uncertainty and tension between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and participating clubs.

Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Ashraful attended the opening ceremony of the tournament, lending his support to the competition, before spending time interacting with the cricketers later in the day. His presence added significance to the opening as the country’s domestic cricket calendar resumes amid recent unrest.

This season, a total of 12 teams are taking part in the league, while eight clubs have chosen to boycott the tournament. At the height of the dispute, as many as 45 clubs from different divisions had expressed solidarity with the protest, raising serious concerns over the continuation of domestic competitions. BCB may make decisions as soon as possible regarding players who are protesting outside the stadium, as their clubs have boycotted the tournament.

The tournament began with a match between Old DOHS Sports Club and Bangladesh Police Cricket Club on Sunday, marking the official start of the league.