Sylhet Division Cricket Team

The Sylhet Division Cricket Team is a Bangladeshi first-class team representing Sylhet Division, one of the country's eight administrative regions. The team competes in the National Cricket League (NCL) and the National Cricket League Twenty20 (NCL T20), and previously participated in the now-defunct National Cricket League One-Day tournament.

During the NCL T20 2009–10 season, the team adopted the name Sultans of Sylhet and played in yellow and blue colors. However, with the tournament's restart after long break in 2024, the team decided to drop the "Sultans of Sylhet" name and continue competing under their original divisional name.

Sylhet is also represented by the Sylhet Strikers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Sylhet’s home ground, the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, holds 13,500 fans and is a proud landmark of the city. In 2024, Sylhet ended their long wait for silverware by winning their first-ever National Cricket League (NCL) title, the country’s top First-Class competition. This historic victory marked the end of a trophy drought that stretched all the way back to their inaugural National One-Day League win in 2001–02.

History

Sylhet Division has a long and storied history in cricket, dating back to the time when it was part of British India. The first-ever recorded cricket match in the Indian subcontinent was played in Sylhet, History of Cricket in Sylhet marking the region's early involvement in the sport.

Despite its historical significance, the Sylhet Division cricket team struggled in Bangladesh's First-Class (FC) competitions, National Cricket League (NCL), for much of its existence. The team faced difficulties in competing at the highest level and was often near the bottom of the standings. However, Sylhet achieved notable success in limited-overs formats, notably winning the inaugural One Day league in 2001. Afterward, the team performed moderately well before the league was eventually defunct.

In the late 2000s, the team transitioned to the T20 format, playing their first NCL T20 under the name "Sultan of Sylhet." With their mediocre performance, Sylhet continued to feature in the NCL, often finishing at or near the bottom of the standings until the 2019-20 season.

A turning point came with the emergence of a powerful pace bowling attack, featuring the likes of Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Sakib, and veteran Abu Jayed. This bowling quartet, regarded as the best in the country’s history, played a pivotal role in Sylhet's revival. The 2019-20 season saw Sylhet finish first in NCL Tier 2, securing promotion to Tier 1 for the first time in the team’s history, signaling the start of a new era.

In the 2021-22 season, following the COVID-19 hiatus, Sylhet continued its ascent, finishing third in the standings. Over the next two seasons, the team proved to be one of the most competitive in the league, claiming runners-up positions in both. These performances highlighted the team's transformation into a formidable force in domestic cricket.

Sylhet's crowning achievement came in the 2024-25 season, when the team ended a 24-year trophy drought by winning their first-ever NCL title. This victory, along with their earlier ODI league win in 2001, marked the team’s second major domestic title. The success was largely driven by the team's exceptional pace attack, with Khaled, Ebadot, Tanzim Sakib, Rezaur, and Rahi forming a dominant and highly effective bowling unit. Their performances were so impressive that other teams sought to borrow their pacers for domestic competitions.

Amite Hasan, the team’s captain, was another key contributor to Sylhet's success. As the league's top scorer in the 2024-25 season, his leadership and batting prowess were vital in guiding the team to their long-awaited triumph. While batting depth remains an area of concern, the pace attack's dominance has helped Sylhet become a competitive force in domestic cricket once again.

Sylhet has also produced several notable players who have represented Bangladesh on the international stage. In the early 2000s, players such as Alok Kapali, Rajin Saleh, Enamul Haque Jr., Tapolas Baishya, and Najmul Hossain were key members of the Bangladesh national team, showcasing the region's cricketing talent. However, after 2007-08, the production of top-tier cricketers from Sylhet declined, resulting in a period of stagnation.

The recent emergence of Zakir Hasan, who has established himself in the Bangladesh Test team, along with Jaker Ali, Tanzim Sakib, and Nasum Ahmed, has rejuvenated the region’s cricketing reputation. With several current players regularly featuring for Bangladesh, Sylhet continues to make its mark on the national cricket scene.

From a period of struggle to a period of resurgence, the history of the Sylhet Division Cricket Team reflects the development of a competitive side, particularly with the emergence of a strong pace attack. The team’s recent success in winning the NCL title in the 2024-25 season represents a significant milestone in the region's cricketing history.

Honours

* National Cricket League (1) – 2024–25
* One-Day Cricket League (1) – 2001–02

Seasons

Current squad

Records

Most Runs in First-class Matches

Notable players

The following is a list of players who have played for both Sylhet and Bangladesh.

* Abul Hasan
* Alok Kapali
* Aminul Islam Bulbul
* Anisur Rahman
* Athar Ali Khan
* Dhiman Ghosh
* Enamul Haque
* Farhad Reza
* Faruk Ahmed
* Golam Faruq
* Hasibul Hossain
* Mashrafe Mortaza
* Mohammad Rafique
* Moniruzzaman
* Mosharrof Hossain
* Mushfiqur Rahim
* Nadif Chowdhury
* Nasir Ahmed
* Nazmul Hossain
* Nazmus Sadat
* Niamur Rashid
* Rajin Saleh
* Robiul Islam
* Tapash Baisya

Sylhet players who have played for countries other than Bangladesh:
* Indika de Saram
* Faisal Iqbal
* Kaushalya Weeraratne

References

External links

CricInfo team profile


at CricketArchive

{{Bangladeshi first-class cricket clubs

Bangladeshi first-class cricket teams
Sylhet Division
Bangladesh National Cricket League
1999 establishments in Bangladesh
Cricket clubs established in 1999