The grand closing and prize distribution ceremony of the Robi Brawler Hunt took place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. The initiative aimed to discover and nurture promising bowling talent across Bangladesh.
The talent search began on September 15, 2026, with nationwide trial selections kicking off on September 27 in Sylhet. Trials were held across nine venues in eight locations: Sylhet, Khulna, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and two sites in Dhaka. Participants from Barishal took part at the Khulna venue. More than 25,000 aspirants registered for the program, leading to the selection of 143 promising bowlers—comprising 57 pacers and 86 spinners, including 108 male and 35 female participants.
The selected players took part in a national selection phase in Dhaka on November 1, featuring a day-long training program and performance evaluation. Based on their skills and performance, 42 short-listed bowlers advanced to the final round on November 2, where experienced coaches and cricket experts evaluated their performances. A total of 21 winners were named, alongside two recipients of special awards.
The prize distribution ceremony was attended by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal Khan, BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, Robi Axiata PLC Head of Marketing Shaowkat Kader Chowdhury, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Shahed Alam, alongside senior officials from both organizations.
BCB President Tamim Iqbal Khan emphasized the importance of identifying and nurturing new talent for the continuous development of Bangladesh cricket. He noted that initiatives like the Robi Brawler Hunt provide vital opportunities for young cricketers to showcase their abilities and gain recognition, commending Robi’s involvement in cricket development.
Robi Axiata PLC Managing Director and CEO Rajeev Sethi highlighted the company’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young talent across the country. He expressed confidence that talent can emerge from anywhere and stated that Robi aims to inspire the next generation through its partnership with the BCB. Marketing Head Shaowkat Kader Chowdhury added that the initiative reflects Robi’s dedication to supporting aspiring bowlers.
Robi has previously partnered with the BCB to host similar pace and spin bowling hunts. Those past initiatives played a key role in identifying current national team players such as Ebadot Hossain and Rishad Hossain.
