Foreign Flavor Returns to Sylhet Cricket League

Once a hub for domestic and international cricketing stars, the Sylhet Cricket League is now gearing up for a long-awaited revival. In the 1990s, the league featured global icons like Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga and a regular stream of Pakistani players. However, over the past 15 years, Sylhet cricket has seen a steady decline, plagued by a lack of competitiveness and minimal presence of national-level players.

The absence of a relegation system drained the league of intensity, reducing matches to little more than formalities. But a significant turnaround appears to be on the horizon.

A newly formed ad-hoc committee is now determined to restore Sylhet’s lost cricketing legacy. Central to their plan is the implementation of a structured annual sports calendar to ensure Sylhet’s grounds remain active year-round.

The committee’s first major initiative is the upcoming "DSA T20 Cup Cricket Tournament 2025." At the jersey and trophy unveiling ceremony held on Monday, ad-hoc committee member Advocate Imran Ahmed Chowdhury shared key elements of the committee’s vision.

“We aim to bring back relegation to reintroduce competitiveness. When there's pressure, clubs will build stronger teams. We also want local players and national stars to share dressing rooms—it will be a learning experience for the younger ones,” said Chowdhury.

Addressing the inclusion of foreign players, he added, “There was a time when many Sri Lankan and Pakistani stars played in the Sylhet League. We want to revive that tradition. Based on a BCB-approved list, clubs will be allowed to include foreign players, and we will facilitate that process.”

He also emphasized the importance of a year-long sports calendar to help athletes plan and prepare in advance.

Ad-hoc committee member and SAFF-winning footballer Sahaj Uddin Tipu echoed the sentiment, saying, “Sylhet’s fields will no longer sit empty. Our goal is to keep the grounds alive with sporting activity all year round.”