Five zonal champions - Comilla, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Khulna and Narayanganj- along with defending champions Chittagong runners-up Bangladesh Biman and two losing semifinalists, of last year- Dhaka and Dhaka University - as well as hosts Sylhet will compete in the phase, to be played on knock-out basis.

Chittagong will take on Rajshahi in the inaugural match. The tournament will be 50-over-a-side affairs excepting the semifinals and the final. The semifinals will be played over three days while the final will be a four-day match.