Bangladesh to start Test preparation through BCL
Image : Getty
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh cricketers are set to start their preparation for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan through taking part in the opening round of the forthcoming Bangladesh Cricket League, country’s lone franchise-based first-class tournament.
80 top cricketers of the country found themselves a team for upcoming season of Bangladesh Cricket League in the players’ draft held in Bangladesh Cricket Board headquarters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
Frontline national cricketers will be available for the first and the third round of the tournament. However Mushfiqur Rahim, having opted out from tour of Pakistan, will be fully available for his side BCB North Zone for full season. On the other hand national opener Tamim Iqbal will be seen in action for Islami Bank East Zone.
All-rounder Mahmudullah will feature for BCB South Zone. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman and batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun have been picked by Walton Central Zone.
With the four-team tournament set start Friday, cricketers that had failed in the first round of fitness teat were found to reaper the test at BCB indoor facilities on Monday. More than 100 cricketers participated in the fitness test and had passed the benchmark, level 11 in beep test, set by national selectors.
The only franchise based first-class cricket tournament of the country will this season see only two corporate houses, Walton for Central Zone and Islami Bank for East Zone, patronize two teams while BCB will manage the other two team, North and South Zone. BCB tournament committee has come to the decision to cut the red-ball tournament shot this time running it in single league to make window for the Dhaka Premier League season 2019-20.
“We I think have formed a decent team involving national cricketers. We will of course fight for the championship,” said Walton Central Zone coach Zafrul Ehsan to the media following players’ draft.
On the other hand, former national cricketer and manager of BCB South Zone, Nafees Iqbal is hopeful going into the tournament backed by a balanced side.
“This team has the ability to lift the championship. Presence of national cricketers will give a good ambience to the dressing room. I am looking forward to a good competition,” said Nafees.
Squads:
BCB South Zone: Abdur Razzak, Al Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Mahmudullah, Fazle Mahmud, Farhad Reza, Shamsur Rahman, Mohammad Al Amin, Nasum Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Shahriar Nafees, Robiul Haque, Irfan Shukkur, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Ruyel Miah
Islami Bank East Zone: Imrul Kayes, Abu Jayed Chowdhury, Afif Hossain, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Pinak Ghosh, Hasan Mahmud, Zakir Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Amite Hasan, Rejaur Rahman, Tanvir Islam, Imranuzzaman, Khaled Ahmed, Rony Chowdhury, Mohammad Ashraful
Walton Central Zone: Saif Hassan, Shuvagata Hom, Taibur Rahman, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Arafat Sunny, Shohidul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Raqibul Hasan, Mukidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Nazmul Islam, Mohammad Naim, Abdul Mazid, Ifran Hossain, Mohammad Suhrawardi, Shoriful Islam, Akbar Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
BCB North Zone: Ariful Haque, Nayeem Islam, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sunzamul Islam, Ebadat Hossain, Rony Talukder, Sumon Khan, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Rishad Hossain, Sanjit Saha, Salauddin Shakil, Jahurul Islam, Tanbir Haider, Enamul Haque jnr, Mizanur Rahman, Hossain Ali, Muktar Ali
