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NCL ready to roll

Sports Reporter
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has introduced better remuneration and more prize money for cricketers for the 10th National Cricket League, which kicks off the 2008-09 domestic season tomorrow across the country.
Although winning purses for teams in the four-day and the limited-overs competitions remain same, individual rewards have been increased to inspire competitiveness in the six-team event.
Defending first-class champions Khulna host Sylhet, runners-up Rajshahi entertain Barisal and Dhaka face visiting Chittagong in
the opening round. The first-class competition is scheduled to end in the first week of December and will be followed by the limited-overs version.
The top players, however, will miss most part of this year's competition as the national cricketers will be busy for home and away international commitment against New Zealand and South Africa through October and November. With another 14 cricketers off to India for the banned ICL, which also kicks off tomorrow, the domestic competition will definitely lose the gloss and charm.
Tournament committee chairman Ghulam Mohammed Alomgir said told at a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur National Stadium that they had wanted to
change format but did not go for it due to the players. He, however, did not give any explanation about the changes.
"We have a deficit budget but that doesn't mean we will refrain from spending money where it needs. However, everyone will try to reduce costs as much as possible," told Alomgir, also the chairman of Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis.
The top two teams of the longer version will receive Tk 10 lakh and Tk 5 lakh respectively while the one-day champions and runners-up get Tk 4 lakh and Tk 2 lakh respectively as prize money.
Despite missing the top cricketers, chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee Gazi Ashraf
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Lipu expected a healthy competition'this year.
"We have prepared good wickets where the ball will carry. It would be a good stage where bowlers and batsmen will be able to prove themselves," hoped former national cricket captain Lipu.
"We will try to provide grass-top pitches this time and apart from the venue in Khulna, all the grounds are in sound condition."
Lipu added that they were aware of last season's poor umpiring and asked the umpires' committee to appoint the best available umpires this time.
This year's tournament will also see the NCL return to Sylhet division after five years as the Sylhet District Stadium has been prepared for top level cricket. Sylhet last hosted National league games in the 2003-04 season.
Barisal, as usual, will play their home matches not at home but at Dhaka Fatulla Stadium and the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. Last time a venue at Barisal was used during the 2003-04 season.
Sponsor Ispahani Mirzapore Tea is expected to provide Tk 35 to 40 lakh out of the Tk 4.73-crore estimated budget. The budget of the last season was Tk 4.30 crore.
Meanwhile, mobile content provider Wintel will deliver the scores of the league matches as well as different domestic tournaments to be organised by BCB to mobile phone subscribers.
Chief selector Rafiqul Alam, chairman of Ispahani Group of Companies Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani were also present.