NCL no longer a picnic league, claims Mizanur Rahman

Dhaka, 11 Sep -Dhaka Metro coach Mizanur Rahman Babul came down heavily on the critics who termed National Cricket League (NCL) as 'picnic', stating that he doubted if those people watched the tournament live from the stadium.

"I doubt whether those who criticized the NCL by terming it as picnic league go to the stadium and watch the game," Babul said here today.

"I often heard that the NCL is a picnic league. But I am directly associated with NCL so I know, it's not that type of tournament the way the critics tried to portray. I request those who are talking like this to go to the stadium and watch the game. '

The critics basically pointed out the lack of competition in the country's prime first class cricket tournament as it hardly could prepare a player to take the challenge in the International level. More often the critics' point proved to be right as the cricketers who put a good performance here struggled to find their feet in the Test cricket. Critics said, in reality the players in fact had to learn everything and change their mindset after getting into the national team. 

But Babul refused to admit it saying that NCL is the big platform for the players to make them available in the national team.

"I would say NCL is a very good red ball tournament. Rain often hampers and ruins the beauty of the tournament, reduces the efficiency of the players because we had to play the tournament in rainy season. But it is the platform for the players to make them available for the national team," Babul added.

Babul and other coaches of the NCL however called on chief selector Gazi  Ashraf Hossain Lipu today to discuss to how they could improve the standard of the league.

 "We talked about how to improve the tournament in this situation. There were many loopholes which should be sorted out and plugged to improve its standard. The discussion was held in amicable environment."

The players were also criticized for not being able to play big innings in the NCL. Dhaka Metro cricketer Naim Sheikh admitted it, saying that various factors affected the performance of the players.

"We expect more quality wickets at home. Since Babul sir mentioned one thing that it is being held in rainy season, which affected the ground's quality. 
If it rains for a day, the ground becomes wet for three days," Naim Sheikh said.

"Our grounds, facilities, drainage system need to be improved. When duke ball was used in the last season, we could have scored only two double centuries and a handful of a hundred. If the outfield is heavy and wet, you will get it tough to score in duke ball. You don't understand it unless you are in the field. To play long innings, you need standard wicket and outfield, otherwise it's tough to play long innings."