Akbar hails Rangpur spirit in ‘competitive’ NCL

As dusk settled over Rajshahi Division Cricket Ground, the match between Sylhet and Barishal ended in an expected draw today, handing Rangpur the title with 31 points, having secured a seven-wicket win over Khulna a day earlier.

It marked Rangpur's first NCL longer-format title since the 2022–23 season and completed a domestic double after their success in the NCL T20 in October.

Winning any trophy is always special, but this time it was even sweeter for captain Akbar Ali due to the competitiveness of the tournament, which had often been questioned, and the quality of the wickets, which added further satisfaction.

This season, the tournament entered the final round with six teams still in contention. That intense competition set the perfect stage for celebration for Akbar and his teammates in Bogura, where every session felt meaningful and every wicket carried added value.

"[The competitiveness] It's a big thing. All of us were watching the match on our phones, and everyone was supporting Barishal today. We even played football today, and the plan was to leave here celebrating the title," said Akbar, who returned from the Rising Asia Cup to lead Rangpur to the four-day tournament triumph.

The celebrations highlighted the strong camaraderie within the Rangpur unit. Akbar emphasised the team's competitive edge -- their selflessness.

"When teams are formed, no one probably keeps us on the favourites' list, but the way everyone fights for this team is our biggest strength. Everyone plays selfless cricket here," he told The Daily Star.

This season's NCL also introduced several new elements, with Kookaburra balls used in the first two rounds to prepare national team players ahead of the Ireland Tests, and Dukes balls coming into play from the third round. There were more high-quality wickets on offer, and Akbar, the ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning skipper, was especially pleased with how the Bogura pitches rewarded disciplined bowlers willing to attack.

"When there is grass on these wickets, like in Bogura, it's challenging for the batters. That was great for us since we needed wins -- there was no other option. A result-oriented wicket was very good for us," he said.

"[Sohel] Rana bhai and [Mukidul Islam] Mugdho were excellent. The last time we were champions, it was also because Mugdho contributed so well. As you saw, he played only four games due to injury and workload but got so many wickets and the three matches we won this time was due to him," Akbar showered praise on Mugdho who finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets in just four matches.

The tournament's competitiveness also shone in the statistics, with Khulna's Soumya Sarkar fighting tooth and nail to become the top scorer, despite struggling with the transition from ODIs to first-class cricket at the start of the tournament, proving that resilience and quality thrive under pressure.

Rangpur's Iqbal Hosen and Sylhet's Amite Hasan also delivered notable performances. From a selectors' perspective, the NCL showcased real competitiveness.

"This time, I felt the competitiveness of the tournament really increased. The players appeared serious, and the wickets were excellent at Sylhet, Bogura, and Rajshahi. The transition from Kookaburra to Dukes was also good, as it raised the challenge," selector Hasibul Hossain Shanto said.