A Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) official on Wednesday said that they had already placed advertisements in three leading newspapers to invite clubs to participate in next month's Dhaka Third Division Qualifying Cricket League (2024-2025).

"We have already placed our advertisements in three newspapers. They will be published tomorrow [Thursday]," a CCDM official told The Daily Star.

"This year, we have set the entry fee at Tk 1 lakh, down from Tk 5 lakh in previous years. We are initially targeting 48 clubs for the tournament. If there are more interested clubs, we may hold a lottery for selection in the qualifying tournament," he said, adding that the reduction in the entry fee had already attracted great interest from clubs.

"We have set some rules, such as the clubs must be from Dhaka, our affiliated clubs can't apply, and the clubs can't play with registered cricketers," he said, further informing that they expect the tournament to start on March 10.

"In 2012-13, there were 48 teams. We couldn't hold the league in 2013-14. In 2014-15, there were 20 teams. At that time, the entry fee was Tk 1 lakh. But from the next season, the entry fee was Tk 5 lakh, and since then, fewer clubs have taken part in the competition," he said.

"We are expecting to hold the tournament at a higher calibre once again this year, following the reduction in the entry fee." 

According to the advertisement, teams or clubs located in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area only (excluding corporate, office, and cricket academy teams) will be able to collect the prescribed application form from the CCDM office, BCB, by paying Tk 1,000 on February 19, 20, and 22.

They are required to submit the prescribed application form and necessary papers on official letterhead, along with a Pay Order of Tk 1 lakh in favour of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, on February 23 and 24 respectively. The entry fee for the tournament will be non-refundable, according to the advertisement.