Sports Reporter:
The ABG University Cup 2026 is set to begin with the aim of promoting cricket and football at the university level, discovering emerging talent, and fostering a professional sports culture in Bangladesh. A captain’s conference was held as part of the tournament’s official preparations, organized under the vision and guidance of Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Chairman of Anvir Bashundhara Group (ABG).
The conference took place on Thursday (October 22) at the Zulkan Indoor Arena of ABG Sports City in Bashundhara Residential Area. A total of 20 captains representing the cricket and football teams of 10 private universities, along with university representatives and students, attended the event.
Discussions at the conference covered tournament preparations, rules and regulations, and various aspects of the competition. A draw was also held to determine the groups for both cricket and football. The official tournament jerseys and trophy were unveiled, and jerseys were distributed among the participating players.
According to the organizers, a key attraction of the competition, initiated and sponsored by ABG Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir, will be cricket and football matches played under floodlights. The initiative aims to make university-level sports more competitive and engaging while creating a vibrant sporting environment for students.
The 10 participating universities will compete in separate cricket and football tournaments, with teams divided into two groups in each discipline.
In the cricket competition, Group A comprises BRAC University, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), University of Scholars, and Daffodil International University.
Group B features American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), North South University, Sonargaon University, United International University (UIU), and Fareast International University.
In the football competition, Group A includes North South University, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), United International University (UIU), Fareast International University, and Daffodil International University.
Meanwhile, Group B consists of American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), BRAC University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Sonargaon University, and University of Scholars.
To encourage young people to participate in sports and promote competitive sporting activities, the organizers have announced prize money of Tk 1 million for the champions in each discipline. The runners-up in both cricket and football will receive Tk 500,000 each.
Mohammad Imrul Hasan, Director of ABG Sports City, attended the captain’s conference as the chief guest. Other attendees included Abdul Bari, Media Adviser to Bashundhara Group; Mohammad Liaquat Hossain and Mohammad Nazmul Alam Bhuiyan, Advisers to ABG Sports City; Tasvir Ul Islam, Executive Director of T Sports; Salman Hasan, Operations Manager (Football); and Ikram Hossain Rafi, Operations Manager (Cricket).
Addressing the event, Imrul Hasan said the ABG University Cup was beginning with cricket and football, with plans to introduce additional sporting events in the future and expand the competition on a larger scale.
He said the initiative would provide talented university-level athletes with a platform to demonstrate their skills and abilities while creating opportunities for them to contribute to the national sporting arena.
Highlighting Bashundhara Group’s role in the development of sports in Bangladesh, he said the group had long been contributing to the country’s sporting sector through sponsorship of various sports at national and international levels, the development of world-class sporting infrastructure, and the introduction of new initiatives.
He added that ABG Sports City, one of the largest sports infrastructure facilities in the subcontinent, reflects the group’s commitment to advancing sports in Bangladesh.
Imrul Hasan further expressed optimism that the ABG University Cup, launched under the vision and guidance of Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Chairman of Anvir Bashundhara Group, would continue to expand and develop over time, eventually establishing a strong presence in the country’s sporting landscape.
Organizers and participating university captains expressed hope that the competition would help develop teamwork, leadership skills, and sportsmanship among students. They also expect the tournament to create a pathway for talented cricketers and footballers to progress from university-level competitions to the national stage.
