Rangpur Division were crowned National Cricket League champions for the 2025-26 season after they beat Khulna Division by seven wickets in Bogra. They completed the win inside three days, but had to wait for the result of the match between defending champions Sylhet Division and Barishal Division in Rajshahi. When Sylhet pulled the plug on their fourth-innings chase, Rangpur were confirmed as the winners.
Led by Akbar Ali, Rangpur had earlier won the NCL T20s for the second time in two seasons. When Akbar was off to leading the Bangladesh A side in the ACC Rising Stars tournament last month, Rangpur's title race went off-kilter, before recovering once he returned.
In their last match of this year's NCL first-class competition, Rangpur trailed Khulna by 134 runs in the first innings. They fought back through Mukidul Islam's five-wicket haul, which helped skittle out Khulna for just 96 runs. Iqbal Hosen's maiden first-class century - an unbeaten 114 - helped Rangpur chase 231 in the fourth innings quite comfortably in the end.
During Sylhet Division's draw against against Barishal, Sylhet ended up with a 25-run first-innings deficit despite Zakir Hasan's 130. He struck 19 fours in his 185-ball stay but his lone hand was not enough to get them to the lead.
Barishal then made 294 for 8 in the third innings. Young opener Iftakhar Hossain hit an unbeaten 128, striking 11 fours and four sixes during his 197-ball stay. Mushfiqur Rahim was one of two half-centurions as Sylhet finished on 187 for 5 in their chase of 320.
Sylhet finished second in the championship, while newcomers Mymensingh Division took a commendable third position despite going down by 146 runs against Rajshahi Division in Sylhet.
Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam took five wickets to give Rajshahi an 81-run first innings lead. Wicketkeeper Shakhir Hossain then made 94 as Rajshahi set Mymensingh a 428-run target in the fourth innings. They were bowled out for 281. Allrounder Abu Hider struck a career-best unbeaten 141, but Sunzamul completed his eighth ten-wicket match haul with another five-for.
At the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka Division cruised past Chattogram Division by an innings and 192 runs.
Dhaka openers Ashiqur Rahman Shibli and Anisul Islam Emon struck centuries, though the pair initially didn't put together a big partnership. Ashiqur, who had retired hurt on 27, resumed his innings when Anisul's 186 had taken Dhaka to a formidable 359 for 3. Anisul hit 18 fours and five sixes in his six-hours-and-15-minutes stay.
Marshall Ayub also enjoyed the run-fest, hitting a 165 laden with 17 fours - it was his 29th first-class century. He had crossed 10,000 first-class career runs earlier in the season.
Dhaka fast bowlers Ripon Mondol, Salahuddin Sakil and Sumon Khan took three wickets each to skittle out Chattogram for 158, before they enforced the follow-on. Chattogram improved on their score slightly, getting bowled out for 191 runs. This time, it was left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam who took three wickets for Dhaka.
Soumya Sarkar ended as the NCL's top scorer with 633 runs at an average of 45.21, ahead of Zakir (628 runs) and Marshall Ayub (625). Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam was the only bowler to take more than 30 wickets, finishing with 34 scalps at an average of 22.61.