Top End T20 schedule set for Bangladesh HP

Bangladesh High-Performance (HP) team's schedule for the 2026 Study NT Top End T20 Series was announced on Wednesday, with the side set to return to Darwin for a third consecutive year in the tournament.

The 10-day competition, which runs from August 20 to 30, will feature 30 matches across multiple venues in Darwin, including TIO Stadium and DXC Arena.

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Bangladesh HP will face Nepal, New Zealand A and hosts NT Strike, while also taking on Australian domestic and Big Bash League academy sides representing the Hobart Hurricanes, Victoria and Adelaide Strikers. The top four teams at the end of the league phase will progress to the semi-finals before the final on August 30.

This will be Bangladesh's third straight appearance in the tournament, which began in 2022 and has become an important part of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's player-development pathway. The HP side reached the final in 2024, while previous campaigns helped several players, including Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan, establish themselves in Bangladesh's senior white-ball setup.

Bangladesh's continued participation also reflects the growing stature of the Top End Series, which has attracted international teams, Big Bash League academies and overseas T20 franchises during Australia's winter.

Ahead of the Australia tour, the BCB on Tuesday named a 15-member HP squad, captained by S M Meherob Hasan, for two T20 matches against Malaysia on August 8 and 10. The squad includes Sabbir Rahman and Shamim Hossain, both hoping to force their way back into the national side, alongside Bangladesh pace-bowling all-rounder Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Mohammad Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, who has represented the country in one ODI and one T20I.

NT Cricket chief executive Gavin Dovey welcomed Bangladesh's return.

"We are pleased to welcome Bangladesh back to the Top End Series for a third consecutive year.

"Bangladesh is home to 178 million passionate cricket fans and their participation adds both strong competition and an engaged international audience.

"Our growing relationship with the BCB is important to the development of the Series and to Darwin's position as Australia's home of winter cricket," Dovey said.