Even after 24 years since Bangladesh's first Test, the persistent problems of poor batting and substandard wickets in the domestic circuit, evidenced in the National Cricket League’s (NCL) fifth-round fixtures, highlight why the national team continues to struggle in the red-ball format.

Veteran Imrul Kayes failed to end his red-ball career on a high as the Khulna Division batter was dismissed for one in his last innings first-class innings against Dhaka Division on the second day in the fifth round of the National Cricket League (NCL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Bowlers dominated in all four games on the opening day of the fifth round of the 26th National Cricket League (NCL) with a total of 50 wickets falling at four different venues today.

Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, chairman of BCB's umpires' committee for the last three years, in an interview with The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan, expressed his concern regarding the recent increase in code of conduct violations by players in the ongoing National Cricket League while also admitting umpiring errors that have led to such a rise. Here are the excerpts of the interview:

While talking about Bangladesh cricket, many often lament that despite being a Test nation for around two-and-a-half decades, the country has failed to cultivate a domestic cricket culture. This assertion, however, is not quite true.

Being in and around the national team periphery can help cricketers remain in contention to earn their place in the national team, but not if they are of a certain age. Players who have played a few matches in the national team but have not earned their place back are usually above 30. The case of Imrul Kayes, who played his last Test for Bangladesh in 2019 and is set to retire from first-class cricket on 16th November, is of that same ilk.

Selector Hannan Sarkar, however, said that the left-hander must come through a standard fitness procedure.

Pacer Ebadot Hossain is set to return to competitive cricket after 16 months when he represents league-leaders Sylhet Division in a fourth-round match of the National Cricket League against Khulna Division at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground in Cox’s Bazar tomorrow.

Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi Divisions won their respective third-round fixtures of the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) on Tuesday while the other fixture between Chattogram and Dhaka ended in a draw.

Rangpur Division remained second in the NCL standings after the second round following a draw against Dhaka Division on Day Four at BKSP Ground 3 on Tuesday.

Marshall struck 127 off 199 balls -- his 25th first-class ton -- while Aich made a 250-ball 122 on way to his maiden first-class hundred to help Dhaka Metro declare their first innings at 408-5, having resumed at 102-1.

Earlier, it was announced that the NCL format would change this year, adopting a single round-robin format.

The umpiring controversy in the recently-concluded National Cricket League had resulted in BCB Umpires' Committee open a fact-finding body. It has been learnt that evidence of poor umpiring was found and the BCB has pulled out six umpires from the Bangladesh Cricket League, which starts tomorrow.

Spinner Nayeem Hasan was adjudged the player of the tier-2 tournament for his 36 scalps.    

The rotten core of domestic cricket in Bangladesh cricket is often discussed but ebbs away when the national team results are good. This time amidst the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup, an umpiring controversy is once again in the centre of debate.

While sifting through the wreckage of Bangladesh’s disastrous World Cup campaign in India to find out what caused the team to crash and burn out in the competition, there are many apparent reasons that come in sight.

Rangpur Division skipper Akbar Ali's 179-run knock was followed by fellow batter Tanbir Hayder's 169 as they were bundled out for 435 against Dhaka Metro on Day 2 of their National Cricket League fixture at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Friday.

Shamsur Rahman Shuvo hit 160 in the National Cricket League's third round as Sylhet Division dominated proceedings against Rangpur Division in a Tier 1 game at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday.

Chattogram's Hasan Murad had already had a four-for before Day Four began and had scalped three wickets in four deliveries on the previous day before stumps at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in the NCL's tier 2 game.

Khulna Division batter Anamul Haque Bijoy scored a century on the second day of a National Cricket League's second-round fixture against Chattogram Division at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.