I want to be the highest run-getter in the NCL: Nasir

Cricket of all forms had been on hold in the country for a very long time due to the outbreak of Covid-19 until the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) hosted two domestic tournaments last year followed by the bilateral series against the  West Indies this year. Finally, much to the delight of all the cricketers, domestic cricket in Bangladesh is all set to resume.

The National Cricket League (NCL), the premier first-class tournament in Bangladesh, is going to kick off on March 22. The tournament will be sponsored by Walton, a Bangladeshi multinational brand. The matches will be held on three different grounds- Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, Shahid Qamaruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi and BKSP in Savar. The cricketers are extremely delighted, to say the least, to get an opportunity to play red-ball cricket after a long hiatus. Nasir Hossain, one of the players of Rangpur Division, is no different. But the all-rounder is slightly worried about his fitness. 

Nasir practised with his Rangpur Division teammates in Mirpur who are taking on Dhaka Division at BKSP-4 on Monday. "It's obviously great to get an opportunity to play first-class cricket after a year. We will try our best to finish the tournament successfully."

Nasir Hossain, to his own admission, is not a hundred per cent fit but the all-rounder said that he is trying to overcome the hurdles. He said, "To be honest, the injury is worrying me. I won't say I am a hundred per cent fit. There's a little bit of fear and I have to overcome it by playing. I am trying to be completely fit by hitting the gym and running."

"It's my comeback tournament. I will try to become the highest run-getter at least. As there are six four-day matches, I want to amass 800 to 1000 runs," Nasir added.

Nasir has been in trouble lately regarding his marriage but he believes that these off-field issues will not affect his performance on the field. "When I come here to play cricket, I cannot think of anything else. The happenings of the world outside the ground never affects me when I am batting or bowling. Whatever I have done so far is not illegal," he commented.

"We are not so stupid that we would marry without a divorce. We haven't yet shown all the documents. A couple of YouTubers have made false allegations and people are so illiterate that they are believing all that," Nasir said.

Khulna Division will host Sylhet Division in Khulna on the first day. The other two teams of tier-1- Dhaka and Rangpur, will lock horns at BKSP-4. Rajshahi will host Chattogram on the same day. This match will be part of tier-2. Barishal and Dhaka Metro of the same tier will face each other in Barishal. The second round of the tournament will begin on March 29.