Batsman rule in BBPL
Image : BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
While improving the quality of the wickets had always been one of the fundamental mottos ahead of Bangladesh Premier League 2019-20, bowling was assumed to be the hot topic during this new edition of BPL considering BCB’s (Bangladesh Cricket Board) pre-planned instructions regarding the selection of the bowlers in the procedure of shaping up the squads for the T20 tournament.
But defining the true colour of Twenty20 games, batsmen have made this year of BPL of their own, unlike the previous editions of this local shorter format tournament, and more specifically since the tournament landed at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium for Chattogram phase.
Zahur Ahmed Stadium, locally known as Shagorika Stadium has seen nine innings crossing 180-landmark of runs in 8 matches while two of them were successfully chased down. And not only that, with five totals crossing 200-run mark, Chattogram Challengers also set the second-highest total ever in the history of BPL, scoring 238 against Cumilla who also managed to contribute 222 runs on the board, in a 460-run T20 match.
Despite not being as frequent as in Chattogram, Sher-e-Bangla Stadium also saw some exciting T20 team totals in Bangabandhu BPL.
Both local and overseas batsmen are scoring with fluidity so far in this year’s tournament. Bowlers poor performance might be a reason, if not, batsmen’s basic batting capability has proved enough considering the high scoring pitches made which is specially prepared for the batsmen, with an impression to make the tournament more thrilling with high scoring matches.
After Mohammad Mithun and young Mohammad Naim- Tamim Iqbal also got satisfying innings in Dhaka. In Chattogram, Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, and Mominul Haq- all had their moments of magic with the bat with well fit innings.
Among the overseas batsmen- Chadwick Walton, Shoib Malik, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Shahzad, Lendl Simmons, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, and Dawid Malan- all played big innings.
Walton (240) and Kayes (235), the two Chattogram batsmen leading the tally having played most games (7) than the other team so far in this tournament, as Rilee Rossow sitting at third.
As Caribbean batsman Walton is still being the only batsman to touch three-digit figure, Mushfiqur fell just four runs short of scoring his maiden T20 hundred.
After scoring the century in Chattogram, Walton was in full in praising mood for the wicket at Zahur Ahmed stadium.
“There is no wicket better than this. I want to take the wicket with me back to home,” Walton told after scoring the hundred against Khulna Tigers.
Khulna skipper Mushfiq thinks the list of the centurions has a good possibility to extend. “Not only one, but there may also be two-three more (hundred). And this is not only for me, but this is also a big opportunity for any top-order batsman,” the national team wicket-keeper told at the press conference after playing the 96-run innings against Rajshahi Royals in Chattogram.
Mushfiq also revealed the reason why the top order batsmen have a good possibility of playing more good innings, “the best batsmen bat at top orders in T20. If you see the ratio, top order batsmen have more contribution in winning matches. If the top order batsmen become successful for a team, that team will have more possibility of winning matches. That’s the secret,” said Mushfiq.
The more excitement the batsmen have provided so far in this tournament, the Bangabandhu BPL have also disappointed as much in bowling department, except young bowlers like, Mehedi Hasan Rana.
But BCB chief selector has given a reason of hope for the bowlers in his recent interaction with press on Sunday, “Runs are coming in Chattogram. This is good for the spectators and the players are also getting more confidence. But the disappointments are there for the bowlers,” Nannu told.
“Wickets will usually be different in different venues. Players face different challenges in different pitches. If they (batsmen) struggle in Dhaka, then they (batsmen)are playing comfortably in Chattogram. And they might feel the difficulty when they will be playing in Sylhet. If we have different wickets in different venues, it will be beneficial for us” Nannu added.
