Rajshahi Kings initial target to reach BPL top four
Mushfiq named icon player of the team
Sports Reporter
Rajshahi Kings launched their formal journey with the announcement of the wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim as their icon player for the upcoming T20 tournament of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) through a gala ceremony yesterday.
By roping in Mushfiq, the most consistent performer of Bangladesh, the Kings made their clarion billing to lift the BPL title what they lost last year following an outstanding performance.
They surprised all not only by their jaw-dropping performance but also by some entertaining innovations throughout the tournament. This year they vow to maintain it and showcase some more novelty to reach at their expected but dreamt destination.
They set their first target to enter into the top four and then fight for the BPL championship.
Mushfiq, who played for franchisee teams in the last four editions, felt honoured to be a part with Rajshahi Kings, stating that he will attempt his utmost best to perform for what causes Rajshahi chose him for their team.
Every player wants to play for their local team. I feel proud and honoured to play for the Rajshahi Kings. Along with that, it has given me a responsibility. I will try to justify their selection for what reason they took me for their team, said Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored so far 1172, the highest of BPL, off 42 match-road string.
This year Rajshahi retained promising youngster Mehedi Hasan Miraj, batsman Mominul Haque and pace all-rounder Forhad Reza along with Mushfiq. Along with that, they confirmed the inclusion of West Indies Batsman Lendl Simmons, James Franklin, Samit Patel, Mohammad Sami, Kesrick Williams, English all-rounder Luke Wright, Zimbabwean all-rounder Malcolm Waller.
He said that they will try to play together so that they could lift their maiden BPL trophy for the Kings.
T20 is such a format of games wherein one cant bring success for the team. If you look at the last four editions, where I had no magic wind in my hand if I perform the team will be won. You have to perform as a team in T20 though Im the highest run getter in the last four editions. In that sense, Ill say that it becomes very difficult to perform better if not get support from the other end, Mushfiq said.
Our first target is to break into the top four of the tournament. Apart from the last year what I played in the last three editions we didnt perform bad as a team. In pen and paper we had no team to be proud in the last four editions where I played for. To be honest, Rajshahi Kings last year was not a better side in pen and paper but performed outstanding. Sometimes the result does not come having formed a good team but sometimes the good result made having no good team, he told reporters at the Runner Group headquarters in the capital.
Main thing is that people live with hopes. Ill try to give my hundred percent wherein I go and play for. Sometimes it becomes difficult to perform when it cant perform as a team. Ill try so that I can perform better individually. The three players Rajshahi retained theyre very good players, who played for the national team. Ill try to play with them along with foreign collection what we have to bring the result in favour of us, he added.
The icon player shared the same stage with Kings chairman Hafizur Rahman Khan among others. He said that now the foreigners keenly look to play in BPL with the increase of the grandeur and popularity of this T20 tournament.
BPL is a big platform for us. At the initial stage, people would not recognize BPL than the present time. But now foreigners eagerly look to play in BPL. Definitely BPL is being improved every year, he said, adding: This year the activities of the BPL have been started almost four-five month ago and maximum teams formed their respective team. I think the current edition will be better than the past editions and its games will also be better after enlisting a new team.
The quality players will play, having divided into the eight teams. So no one could predict which team will be championed. Even which teams will go into the top four is difficult to say so early. I personally think that the start of the BPL-5 has been made good. Ill try to do better at least what will be in my hand in the field.
Rating the BPL, Mushfiq, dubbed Mr dependable, said that BPL is a good platform for the local players and its impact will be witnessed after the end of the season.
If you tell me to rate Ill then place BPL after IPL in term of cricket-wise and competition -wise. The competition and the competitiveness it has are different, the wicketkeeper-batsman thought.
By playing BPL, young players are now getting a lot of opportunities what we would not get in past. They will play with international player in international vein that will be a good platform for them. In that sense, its place now after IPL but its popularity will be increased further day by day, he told in reply to a query.
