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The forthcoming NCL T20 will be held in Sylhet, Bogura, and Rajshahi, confirmed the chairman of the tournament committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Akram Khan, on Thursday.

The domestic T20 competition was held in two grounds in Sylhet International Stadium last year. Recently, the BCB stated that they were set to increase the venues for September’s eight-team tournament. 

 ‘We had a long meeting. It was difficult to get the venues because we needed two grounds at the same place. After long thinking, we have taken the decision to host the matches in Sylhet, Bogura, and Rajshahi,’ Akram told reporters following a meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Shahid Chandu Stadium in Bogura, which held one Test and five ODIs in 2006, last hosted a competitive match in 2023 during the National Cricket League. 

However, Akram is hopeful that the wickets are in good shape of the stadium to hold the T20 tournament. 

‘We thought about MA Aziz Stadium too, as there are floodlights. But we cannot get those kinds of wickets there. But as I heard, [the wickets] are in good condition in Bogura,’ said the former national team captain. 

‘We have got about 40 days. People from the grounds committee will go there tomorrow for a visit. Definitely we want to host the matches on good wickets so that runs can be scored,’ he added.

Akram said that they considered Bogura’s enthusiasm to select it as one of the venues.

He said, ‘They always ask to host the BPL also. We want cricket to be played all along Bangladesh. Matches were held in Bogura previously; we have thought about that. In Rajshahi, there are so many fans and so many cricketers emerging from there.’

Akram stated that all the group-stage matches would be held in Bogura and Rajshahi, while Sylhet would host only the semi-finals and the final. 

‘We also plan to host the semi-finals and the final under the lights; that’s why we chose Sylhet,’ he said. 

Akram also hoped that the standard of the tournament would be up to the international level. 

‘As you know, the match fee was Tk 25,000 last time; this time it has been increased to Tk 40,000 this time. We are also trying to improve the facilities,’ he said. 

‘We are providing each team's helmets so that they don’t have to use different ones. We are bringing the changes. We are trying to maintain the international standards,’ he added.