Ahead of the main tournament, a colorful 'Captains' Conference' took place on Thursday (October 22) at the Zulkan Indoor Arena of ABG Sports City in the Bashundhara Residential Area.
The conference brought together 20 team captains representing cricket and football squads from 10 leading private universities, along with university officials and student representatives. The event featured a comprehensive review of overall tournament preparations, briefing on tournament regulations, and an official lottery draw for group allocations. Organizers also unveiled the official jerseys and trophy, distributing the athletic gear among team representatives.
A major highlight of the tournament—organized under the sponsorship and leadership of ABG Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir—is that it marks the first time simultaneous cricket and football competitions will be played under floodlights. The 10 participating private universities have been split into two groups across both sports categories.
Group Formations
Cricket Tournament
Group 'A': BRAC University, Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), University of Scholars, and Daffodil International University (DIU).
Group 'B': American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), North South University (NSU), Sonargaon University, United International University (UIU), and Fareast International University.
Football Tournament
Group 'A': North South University (NSU), Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), United International University (UIU), Fareast International University, and Daffodil International University (DIU).
Group 'B': American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), BRAC University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Sonargaon University, and University of Scholars.
Cash Prizes & Key Guests
To inspire youth participation in sports, the organizers announced a prize pool featuring Tk 10 lakh for the champions and Tk 5 lakh for the runners-up in each category (cricket and football).
Md. Imrul Hasan, Director of ABG Sports City, attended the conference as the chief guest. Other notable attendees included Abdul Bari, Media Advisor of Bashundhara Group; Md. Liyakat Hossain and Md. Najmul Alam Bhuiyan, Advisors to ABG Sports City; Tasvir Ul Islam, Executive Director of T Sports; along with Operations Managers Salman Hasan (Football) and Ikram Hossain Rafi (Cricket).
In his address, Chief Guest Md. Imrul Hasan highlighted the vision behind the initiative:
"The journey of the ABG University Cup begins with football and cricket. Going forward, we plan to expand this event on a broader scale by integrating more sports disciplines. Our aim is to provide university-level athletes with a platform where they can showcase their talent and build a pathway to contributing to the national sports arena."
Acknowledging the patron's role in advancing Bangladesh's sporting landscape, Hasan added:
"The contribution of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan to Bangladesh’s sports sector needs no introduction. Through sponsorship, world-class infrastructure development, and groundbreaking initiatives, we have long played a key role. 'ABG Sports City'—one of the largest sports infrastructures in the subcontinent—is a testament to that vision. Following the guidance of ABG Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir, this tournament will grow over time to establish a strong, lasting legacy in national sports."
Organizers and university captains expressed optimism that the tournament will foster team cohesion, build leadership qualities among students, and serve as a pipeline for emerging national athletic talent.
