DALLAS — One of the fastest-growing sports communities in North Texas isn’t football or basketball—it’s cricket. And at the center of that surge is a passionate group of organizers building something much bigger than just a league.

We sat down in the Collin Chronicles studio with key members of LPT Sports—the organization behind the Dallas Bangladesh Cricket Community League (DBCCL)—to understand how a small student tournament turned into a major community movement.

Ifte Islam:
Good evening, Dallas. Today we’re focusing on the rise of the Bangladeshi cricket community here in DFW. Joining me are Dewan Radi, Dr. Helal, Rakib, Shakil, and Rafsan from LPT Sports.

Shakil, let’s start with you. Last year’s tournament was already a success—but this year feels different. What’s changed?

Shakil:
It’s grown beyond what we expected. Last year we had about 70 players. This year, we’re at around 140. That’s double the participation, and it makes DBCCL the biggest Bangladeshi cricket tournament in Dallas right now. The excitement from the community has been huge.

Ifte:
That’s a big jump in just one year. Rakib, walk us through how the tournament is set up this time.

Rakib:
We’ve structured it more like a full league. There are eight teams, each with about 17 to 18 players. What makes it special is that each team represents a region of Bangladesh.

So we have Dhaka Nawabs, Chandpur Super Kings, Chittagong Kings, Cox’s Bazaar Hurricanes, Jalalabad Warriors, Rajshahi Royals, Rangpur Mustangs, and Sylhet Sultans.

The season runs for about four months—from May 2 through August—so it’s not just a short tournament anymore. It’s a full experience.

Ifte:
Dr. Helal, for people hearing about this for the first time, how did LPT Sports even get started?

Dr. Helal:
It started very simply. LPT stands for “Let’s Play Together.” A few of us just wanted to create a space for Bangladeshi students and young professionals to play cricket—the sport we grew up with.

Back in 2023, we organized a small tournament with about 40 players, mostly from UTD, UTA, and UNT. That was it.

Now, just a few years later, we’re at 140 players. The growth has been incredible.

Ifte:
Dewan Radi, clearly this is more than just a league now. What’s the bigger mission behind LPT Sports?

Dewan Radi:
There are a few things driving us. First, we want to give Bangladeshi students in Dallas a platform to play cricket and even soccer. About 40 percent of our players are students, so this matters a lot.

Second, we want to become the biggest Bangladeshi cricket league in Texas—and eventually in the United States. If you’re Bangladeshi and you play cricket in Dallas, we want you to feel like this is your home.

And third, we want to support Bangladeshi businesses in the DFW area. Our community is growing, and we want that growth to benefit everyone.

Ifte:
Rafsan, what does all this growth mean from a community perspective?

Rafsan:
It means connection. Cricket is a big part of Bangladeshi culture. For a lot of people here, this league isn’t just about playing—it’s about belonging.

We’re bringing people together—students, professionals, families. And looking ahead, we want to expand even more. More teams, more sponsors, bigger events. The goal is to make DBCCL the top Bangladeshi cricket league in the U.S.

Ifte:
It’s impressive to see how quickly this has evolved—from a 40-player student event in 2023 to a structured, 140-player league today.

With eight teams, a four-month season, and a clear vision for the future, DBCCL is becoming one of the most exciting community-driven sports developments in North Texas.

For Collin Chronicles, I’m Ifte Islam.