The third round of the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League T20 competition has continued to lack competitiveness with low-scoring encounters the feature of the prestigious domestic tournament so far.
In the first game yesterday, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity registered their first win, chasing down a modest 139-run target set by Legends of Rupganj with seven wickets in hand. Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Jahurul Islam struck fifties as Khelaghar reached the target in 19.3 overs.
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Earlier, Rupganj made a slugging start after being sent in to bat, with national team’s left-handed opener Shadman Islam facing 22 balls for eight runs before being bowled by Masum Khan.
Skipper Naeem Islam was dismissed on a duck while the other opener, Azmir Ahmed, departed for 28 off 21 balls as lack of intent from the Rupganj top-order pushed them on the back foot right from the start.
Al Amin and Sabbir Rahman showed some positivity, adding 55 runs in quick time before the latter departed for 23 off 21 balls. Al Amin was dismissed for 51 off 42 balls and Jaker Ali scored a quick 19 as Rupganj posted 138 for five in 20 overs.
In the day’s second game, Shinepukur Cricket Club successfully defended 137 to seal their first win of the league by 10 runs against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
Sheikh Jamal, a relatively experienced side with a bunch of former national players such as Mohammad Ashraful, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan and Sohrawardi Shuvo, were bundled out for 127 with former national cricketer Elias Sunny emerging with a top-score of 30.
Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam was the pick of the bowlers for Shinepukur with three for eight runs in four overs. Pacer Hassan Murad bagged two wickets.
In the third match of the day, Prime Doleshwar SC defended 144 runs, beating Gazi Group Cricketers by 36 runs.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis had previously changed the 50-over format to T20 format keeping the preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in mind.
It is also understood that there was huge demand from the players to resume the league — the biggest source of income — which was halted in March last year due to the pandemic. The board was also desperate to complete the league keeping the upcoming board election in mind.
But question remains over the quality of the Mirpur surface and overall standard of cricket, with lack of competitiveness undermining the historic intensity of the club-based competition.
The highest match aggregate so far was between Sheikh Jamal and Prime Bank SC, with a total of 315 runs scored in that game.
Sheikh Jamal’s 166 for six against Khelaghar is the tournament’s highest innings while only three out of 14 times teams have managed to post over 150 despite the presence of all national cricketers.
