Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League Explained

Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League
Country:Bangladesh
Administrator:Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis,
Bangladesh Cricket Board
Cricket Format:List A
First:1973–74
2013–14 (as List A competition)
Next:2024–25
Tournament Format:Round Robin
Participants:12
Relegation:Dhaka First Division Cricket League
Levels:1
Champions:Abahani Limited (5th title)
Most Successful:Abahani Limited (5 titles)
Tv:Tsports & GTV
BCB YouTube Channel
Sponsor:Walton

The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, also known as the Dhaka Premier League, is a club List A tournament in Bangladesh.[1] It is run by the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis.

History

Since its inauguration in 1973–74 the league has been the premier club cricket competition in Bangladesh.[2] Occupying more than 200 players for two months each year, it is widely regarded as the "finishing school" for cricketers in Bangladesh.[3] It gained List A status starting with the 2013–14 tournament, thus superseding the National Cricket League One-Day as Bangladesh's main List A competition.

In the years from 1973–74 to 2011–12, Abahani Limited won the championship 17 times.[4] Other winners were Mohammedan Sporting Club nine times, Biman Bangladesh Airlines five times, Victoria Sporting Club four times, Old DOHS Sports Club twice and Brothers Union once. There was no tournament in 2012–13.

To commemorate the centenary of the birth of the founding father of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 2019–20 season of the league was named "Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2019–20".[5] However, the competition was postponed shortly after starting and later abandoned, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next tournament, in 2021–22, was officially named the "Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2021–2022 sponsored by Walton".

List A winners

Since the tournament gained List A status, the winners have been:

Gazi Tank Cricketers[6]

Format

The competition is played as a round-robin of 12 teams, followed by play-off rounds among the top six teams for the championship and among the lowest three teams to determine relegation.

The 2013–14 competition ran from September to November 2014; the 2014–15 competition ran from November 2014 to January 2015; the 2015–16 competition ran from April to June 2016; the 2016–17 competition ran from April to June 2017; the 2017–18 competition ran from February to April 2018; the 2018–19 competition ran from March to April 2019; the 2019–20 competition began in March 2020, but was almost immediately postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic; the next tournament, 2021–22, ran from March to April 2022, and the 2022–23 tournament ran from March to May 2023.

All matches are played on neutral grounds in the Dhaka area. In 2016–17 only three grounds were used: Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, and Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No 3 and No 4 Grounds in Savar. The same three grounds were used in 2017–18 and 2018–19, as well as Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Players

The system of allocating players to clubs varies from season to season, but has elements of lottery.[14] [15] [16] Players frequently change clubs between seasons. Imrul Kayes, for example, played for Victoria Sporting Club in 2006–07 and 2014–15, Mohammedan Sporting Club in 2007–08, 2011–12, 2022–23 and 2023–24, Gazi Tank Cricketers in 2008–09 and 2013–14, Abahani Limited in 2009–10 and 2010–11, Brothers Union in 2015–16, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in 2016–17 and 2021–22, and Gazi Group Cricketers in 2017–18 and 2018–19.[17] Of the 22 players who appeared for Brothers Union in 2013–14,[18] only two were among the 20 Brothers Union players in 2014–15.[19]

From the 1980s to the 2019–20 competition most teams included players from outside Bangladesh.[2] In 2013–14 82 foreign players played in the competition.[20] Beginning with the 2015–16 competition, only one foreign player has been allowed in any playing eleven, although clubs are allowed to have several foreign players on their list;[21] in 2015–16 36 foreign players took part, including 22 Indians and 10 Sri Lankans.[22] Foreign players were excluded from the 2019–20 competition,[23] but were allowed again for the 2021–22 competition, with no more than one foreign player per team per match.[24] There were no foreign players in the 2023–24 tournament, as most of the clubs were unable to afford the cost.[25]

Teams

There are 12 teams in each tournament, changing each season with promotion and relegation. The two lowest-finishing teams are demoted to the second division, the Dhaka First Division Cricket League, for the next season, and the top two teams in the second division are promoted.

In the first 10 seasons, 24 teams competed. Their final positions at the end of each tournament are as follows.

Teams2013
–14
2014
–15
2015
–16
2016
–17
2017
–18
2018
–19
2019
–20
2021
–22
2022
–23
2023
–24
Abahani94W3WWb4WW
Agrani Bank1111
BKSP12
Brothers Union781081010b998
City Club10812
CC Schoola11
Dhaka Leopards12
Gazi Group8W68b666
Gazi TankW
Gazi Tyres11
Kala Bagan CA6312
Kala Bagan KC10108912
Khelaghar SKS111059b11
Legends of Rupganj53722b247
Mohammedan465576b752
Old DOHS12b
Partex1112b9
Prime Bank5W6495b333
Prime Doleshwar342243bc
Rupganj Tigers5710
SJDC299634bW25
Shinepukur87b8104
Uttara11
Victoria87411
W = Winners
a. Cricket Coaching School played the first six matches in 2013–14 but were demoted immediately after failing to arrive at their seventh match in time to play.[26]
b. These teams competed in 2019–20, but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was abandoned shortly after it began. The pandemic also prevented the 2020–21 tournament from going ahead.
c. Prime Doleshwar were scheduled to take part in 2021–22, but withdrew shortly before the tournament began, leaving 11 teams.[27]

Records

Highest score

Best bowling figures

Most runs in a season

Most wickets in a season

Other records

The fastest century is by Brendan Taylor, who reached 100 off 46 balls for Prime Bank against Kalabagan Cricket Academy in 2013–14.[30]

The highest team score is 393 for 4 by Abahani against Prime Doleshwar in 2017–18.[31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walton Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2014. Bangladesh Cricket Board. 2 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150225030809/http://www.tigercricket.com/domestic/bangladesh-cricket-league/. 25 February 2015. dead.
  2. Web site: Isam . Mohammad . The original premier league . 9 June 2017. Cricinfo . 6 March 2022.
  3. Web site: 19 March 2024. Isam . Mohammad . DPL week 1: Abahani's flying start . Cricinfo . 30 March 2024.
  4. Web site: Isam. Mohammad. No restriction on Pakistan players in Dhaka Premier League. 9 September 2013. Cricinfo. 28 March 2015.
  5. Web site: General guideline . Tiger Cricket . 6 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Morgan stars in Gazi Tank's title win . ESPN cricinfo . 29 November 2013.
  7. Web site: Soumya Sarkar leads Prime Bank to title win . ESPN cricinfo . 4 January 2015.
  8. Web site: Abahani thump Prime Bank to lift 18th title . ESPN cricinfo . 23 June 2016.
  9. Web site: Gazi win maiden DPL title despite losing last game . ESPN cricinfo . 6 June 2017.
  10. Web site: Abahani Limited clinch 19th DPL title . Isam . Mohammad . ESPN cricinfo . 5 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Abahani clinch DPDCL 2018–19 Title . Bangladesh Cricket Board . 23 April 2019.
  12. Web site: Dhaka Premier League 'not possible' this year, can only start in January – Khaled Mahmud . ESPN cricinfo . 20 October 2020.
  13. Web site: Isam . Mohammad . DPL: Abahani pip Sheikh Jamal at the final hurdle to lift 21st title . Cricinfo . 14 May 2023.
  14. Web site: Isam. Mohammad. 'Players by choice' transfer set to return in Dhaka league. Cricinfo. 22 April 2016.
  15. Web site: Isam. Mohammad. BCB reverts to draft system for player transfers in DPL. Cricinfo. 4 January 2018.
  16. Web site: Rules for the players' draft event . TigerCricket . Bangladesh Cricket Board . 21 March 2019.
  17. Web site: List A matches played by Imrul Kayes. Cricket Archive. 24 March 2024.
  18. Web site: Batting for Brothers Union 2013–14. CricketArchive. 9 April 2015.
  19. Web site: Batting for Brothers Union 2014–15. CricketArchive. 9 April 2015.
  20. Wisden India Almanack 2015, p. 117.
  21. Web site: Isam. Mohammad. Manoj Tiwary signed by Abahani Limited to play Dhaka Premier League. Cricinfo. 21 May 2016.
  22. Web site: Isam. Mohammad. Kishore. Shashank. Indians dominate overseas presence in DPL. Cricinfo. 27 June 2016.
  23. News: 23 February 2020. Premier Cricket League: No foreign cricketer allowed this year . UNB . 6 March 2020.
  24. News: Bangabandhu DPL to kick off today . 15 March 2022 . The Daily Observer . 15 March 2022.
  25. News: No foreigners in Dhaka Premier League this year . 6 June 2024 . The Daily Star . 13 February 2024.
  26. Web site: Brothers Union v Cricket Coaching School 2013–14. CricketArchive. 28 March 2015.
  27. News: Dhaka Premier League cricket begins Tuesday . 15 March 2022 . UNB . 14 March 2022.
  28. Web site: Isam. Mohammad. Raqibul's mammoth 190 headlines 705-run slugfest. Cricinfo. 9 May 2017.
  29. Web site: Gazi Group destroy Abahani after Yeasin's record eight-for . 5 April 2018 . Cricinfo.
  30. Web site: Fastest hundreds in List A cricket. Cricinfo. 16 May 2016.
  31. Web site: Abahani smash 393, the highest total in Bangladesh List A cricket. Cricinfo. 1 April 2018.