Mahedi Hasan urges local players to step up as Rangpur target BPL final
Mahedi Hasan during press meet, RR
Rangpur Riders all-rounder Mahedi Hasan has emphasized the crucial role their local players must play if the team is to reach the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final. Rangpur will face Khulna Tigers in the high-stakes Eliminator match tomorrow (Monday) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The loser of this knockout clash will exit the tournament immediately, while the winner will progress to Qualifier 2 for another shot at making the final.
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Despite building a strong squad, Rangpur has stumbled at this stage in the past two seasons, losing the Eliminator both times. Mahedi stressed that breaking this streak is their main focus this year.
"In the last two years, we couldn't make it to the final because we lost the Eliminator. That was disappointing for us, but we have another chance this year. We’re determined to overcome this hurdle," Mahedi said on Sunday.
He highlighted the importance of homegrown talent, stating, "We want to reach the final, and tomorrow’s game is critical. We have seven local players who need to play key roles to secure the win. While our four foreign players are in good form, the knockout games demand that local players step up."
Rangpur came into the BPL with strong momentum, having won the Global Super League (GSL) Trophy in the West Indies.
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They started the BPL in dominant fashion, winning their first eight matches to sit at the top of the table. However, a sudden dip in form saw them lose four games in a row, dropping to third place and forcing them into the Eliminator.
The top two teams will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner securing a direct spot in the final. The loser of that match will get another chance by playing the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2, which effectively serves as the semifinal.
Mahedi insisted that the team remains confident despite the recent setbacks.
"Of course, it would’ve been better if we finished in the top two, but we’re not discouraged. We are focused on reaching greater heights," he said, calling the Eliminator a "do-or-die" match.
"If we had finished in the top two, we would’ve had two chances to reach the final. Now, it’s a knockout stage, and we know the stakes. We’ll give it everything we’ve got."
