Second Division League starts with 12 teams after boycott

Twelve clubs have boycotted the Second Division Cricket League, leaving the competition to begin on Saturday with the remaining 12 teams and without a Super League for the first time.

Under the revised format, all 12 teams will play each other in a round-robin league, with the top side in the points table crowned champions and the second-placed team finishing as runners-up. Both teams will earn promotion to the First Division Cricket League next season, according to the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM).

Sources said 11 clubs initially decided to boycott the league, while 13 teams were due to take part. However, one club failed to turn up for the opening round due to financial difficulties and was subsequently dropped under the competition rules, leaving 12 teams to go ahead with the tournament.

A total of 44 clubs had called for a boycott of cricket after declaring the BCB election illegal, with the impact now extending from the First Division to the Second Division league as well.