Bangladesh batters at low ebb in BPL ahead of Champions Trophy

Chattogram, 21 Jan—The Bangladesh national batters, who are in the Champions Trophy-bound squad couldn’t prop up their game so far in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as it was expected.

With the matches of the group phase coming at the business end, apart from Tanzid Hasan Tamim, hardly anyone is at the top 10 in batting chart. It was however not in the case as far as the bowlers are concerned. As has been the case, the bowlers put better performance compared to the batters in BPL.

Dhaka Capitals opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim is in the second spot in the batting chart at this moment with 330 runs from nine matches, batting at the good strike rate of 138.65. Even though his team didn’t fare well in the tournament but Tanzid has already got a century.

Soumya Sarkar who will be his opening partner in the Champions Trophy is in Rangpur Riders tent. But he just returned to practice after recovering from a finger injury that he had sustained during Bangladesh’s West Indies series. Soumya will take field any time soon for his side in BPL.

Jaker Ali Anik made 175 runs in eight matches with a strike rate of 150.86. He is in the 20th spot in batting chart. However the Sylhet Strikers has been using him as the finisher and so chance for him batting is minimal.

Khulna Tigers captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the vital cog of Bangladesh team, scored just 126 runs in seven matches with the willow while Towhid Hridoy, another integral part of the national team, who is playing for Fortune Barishal made just 121 runs in six matches with a strike rate of 131.52. Hridoy scored 462 runs in the last BPL to occupy the second slot.

Chittagong Kings batter Parvez Hossain Emon who replaced Liton Das in the national team squad scored just 103 runs in seven matches. 

Senior batter Mahmudullah Riyad played just four matches and scored 84 while Mushfiqur Rahim scored 73 runs in four matches. Mushfiqur, however, was trying to recover from his injury fully and therefore was used cautiously. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is at the receiving end after making just 56 runs in five matches. Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah, Shanto and Hridoy—all four are the part of Fortune Barishal, led by Tamim Iqbal.

Despite their wayward performance, Barishal won five matches, largely due to Tamim and their foreign recruits.

While the batters have been in lowest ebb, the bowlers did good job so far. Taskin Ahmed topped the bowling chart with 20 wickets from nine matches even though his team Durbar Rajshahi struggled to keep them on the way to the playoffs. 

Tanzim Hasan Sakib scaled 11 wickets while Nahid Rana, playing for Rangpur Riders took nine wickets in seven matches so far. Mustafizur Rahman was not at his best but still claimed nine wickets in nine matches. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took five wickets in seven matches while two spinners—Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain took four wickets each even though the duo were not the regular starter for their team. BSS