Covid-hit BPL to kick off tomorrow

|| CF DESK ||

The eighth edition of the BPL, a special edition to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is scheduled to begin tomorrow [21st January] with the grand finale slated for February 18.

However, Multiple Covid-19 cases were reported among players and team officials Tuesday after they started undergoing Covid-19 tests in order to board the respective hotels but the committee confirmed this will not jeopardize the scheduled start of the mega event.

The six-team tournament will be played across three venues – Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong and Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

A total of 36 games will be played in the league stage followed by the playoffs and the final.

Team overviews are given below

Minister Group Dhaka

After drafting three Bangladesh cricket stars Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, and Mashrafe bin Mortaza - in the players' draft, Team Dhaka became the buzz of the cricket fraternity.

When the syndicate that had originally owned the franchise couldn't pay the bank guarantee the night before the player draft last month, Dhaka's ownership changed abruptly. With selector Habibul Bashar only having a few hours to prepare for the draft, the BCB was left to take over the team. Later BCB gave the ownership to Minister Group.

Apart from the Afghan four of Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad, Qais Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, the local batters include Mohammad Naim, Shamsur Rahman, Jahurul Islam, and Shuvagata Hom. They later signed Andre Russell, the tournament's most expensive player.

To round out a strong bowling attack, they have Sri Lanka's Isuru Udana, Rubel Hossain, and Ebadot Hossain. Mashrafe, on the other hand, will miss the opening few games due to a back issue.

Squad: Mahmudullah (capt), Isuru Udana, Qais Ahmad, Najibullah Zadran, Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shuvagata Hom, Mohammad Shahzad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Naim, Arafat Sunny, Imran Uzzaman, Shafiul Islam, Jahurul Islam, Shamsur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Andre Russell.

Fortune Barishal

For the first time since 2016, a Barishal franchise will compete in the BPL. In the first four editions, the Burners and Bulls had their moments, but now Fortune Barishal has arrived. In December 2020, Fortune Barishal finished fourth out of five teams in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.

The duo from Dhaka Dynamites for several seasons, including their 2016 title, Shakib Al Hasan and coach Khaled Mahmud have returned in the Barishal franchise.

The think tank have chosen a bunch of young Bangladeshi batters like Towhid Hridoy, Munim Shahriar, Salman Hossain and Najmul Hossain Shanto. The ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle will arrive later in the lineup, bringing a ton of punch and experience to the batting order. With Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy at the helm, they have a strong pace attack.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Chris Gayle, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Fazle Mahmud, Obed McCoy, Alzarri Joseph, Towhid Hridoy, Ziaur Rahman, Shafiqul Islam, Shykat Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Salman Hossain, Irfan Sukkur, Dwayne Bravo, Munim Shahriar, Jake Lintott.

Chattogram Challengers

Chattogram Challengers will look to improve on their performance in the 2019-20 BPL, when they advanced to the second qualifier before losing to eventual champions Rajshahi Royals. But Chattogram had a good season overall, which is why Rayad Emrit, Enamul Haque, Nasum Ahmed, and Chadwick Walton, as well as head coach Paul Nixon, have been retained.

The lineup appears to be promising. Bangladesh's Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, and Zakir Hasan are all in good form, and they're well supported by the international quartet of Kennar Lewis, Will Jacks, and Chadwick Walton. Sabbir Rahman.

The bowling assault will be led by Shoriful Islam and Benny Howell, with Mehidy Hasan and Nasum Ahmed in the spin department.

Squad: Nasum Ahmed, Benny Howell, Kennar Lewis, Will Jacks, Shoriful Islam, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mukidul Islam, Chadwick Walton, Rayad Emrit, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Sabbir Rahman, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Mehidy Hasan (capt), Akbar Ali, Naeem Islam, Enamul Haque, Zakir Hasan.

Comilla Victorians

The two-time BPL champions Comilla Victorians return to the tournament after missing the 2019-20 season and the return of Comilla's head coach Mohammad Salahuddin, who won the 2015 and 2019 editions, will provide them a boost.

They have one of the most well-balanced squads in the tournament, with a good mixture of international experience and local knowledge. Their star foreign players are Faf du Plessis, Sunil Narine, Moeen Ali, and Cameron Delport are household names in T20 cricket around the world.

Liton Das is in fine form among the other hitters and Imrul Kayes has plenty of BPL experience. In the top order, Parvez Hossain Emon is the wildcard, having scored the fastest hundred by a Bangladeshi in T20s in 2020. Mustafizur Rahman to lead their bowling attack.

Squad: Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman, Liton Das, Shohidul Islam, Imrul Kayes (capt), Tanvir Islam, Kusal Mendis, Oshane Thomas, Ariful Haque, Nahidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Sumon Khan, Mominul Haque, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abu Hider, Mehedi Hasan, Cameron Delport, Karim Janat.

Khulna Tigers

Khulna Tigers have Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim leading the side with veteran Sri Lanka cricketer Thisara Perera and Naveen Ul Haque (Afghanistan) as their direct signings.

Coach Lance Klusener is looking forward use Mushfiq’s expertise to do well at the tough Bangladesh soil.

Soumya Sarkar, Yasir Ali, Rony Talukder, and Andre Fletcher are the main batters for Mushfiqur. Mushfiqur also serves as the wicketkeeper, while Soumya bowls a useful medium-pace attack and Talukder serves as a backup wicketkeeper.

Perera, Mahedi Hasan, Seekkuge Prasanna, and Sikandar Raza are true allrounders, with Farhad Reza and Mohammad Sharifullah providing domestic backup. The pace attack will be led by Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Naveen, with Khaled Ahmed providing assistance.

Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahedi Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Farhad Reza, Yasir Ali, Rony Talukder, Jaker Ali, Khaled Ahmed, Mohammad Sharifullah, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Nabil Samad, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sikandar Raza, Thisara Perera, Naveenul Huq, Andre Fletcher.

Sylhet Sunrisers

On paper, the Sylhet Sunrisers have a well-balanced roster, but a dearth of real T20 match-winners could leave them short at some point throughout the tournament.

Mosaddek Hossain is expected to lead a team that features Colin Ingram, Lendl Simmons, and Ravi Bopara as well as a number of other notable overseas players. Mohammad Mithun, Alok Kapali, Mizanur Rahman, and Nadif Chowdhury will provide batting support, while Mosaddek Hossain, Sohag Gazi, and Muktar Ali will be the major allrounders.

Taskin Ahmed, Kesrick Williams, Shiraz Ahmed, and Al-Amin Hossain will lead the bowling assault. Nazmul Islam, Jubair Hossain, and Sunzamul Islam are among the spinners.

Squad: Anamul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Kesrick Williams, Colin Ingram, Shiraz Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain (capt), Mohammad Mithun, Al-Amin Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Ravi Bopara, Sohag Gazi, Alok Kapali, Muktar Ali, Jubair Hossain, Mizanur Rahman, Nadif Chowdhury, Shafiul Hayet, Sunzamul Islam, Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas.