Bopara happy to get Mash as teammate
The English all-rounder thinks BPL is a competitive tourney
Sports Reporter
English all-rounder Ravi Bopara is not a fresh blood in Bangladesh cricket as he played Dhaka Premier League (BPL) along with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for three different franchisee teams.
Even though he missed to play the maiden edition because of his county engagement, the 32-year-old all-rounder has been playing in BPL since second edition.
Last year the right-handed batsman played for Dhaka Dynamites, the defending champions of the BPL before playing for Chittagong Kings in 2012-13 and then Sylhet Super Kings in 2014-15.
But Rangpur Riders grabbed this experienced player before the BPL players draft along with his compatriots Adam Lyth and Sam Hain this time around.
The trio joined the Riders ongoing
training camp at the BCB-National Cricket Academy (NCA) ground after their arrival in Bangladesh.
Bopara met media after three-hour-long training session, whereby he praised BPL T20 tournament as he said that the competition in BPL will be more competitive with the participation of the big players.
There have been big players in the past, like last year you had Kumar Sangakkara and Dwayne Bravo, said Ravi Bopara, who originally a top-order right-handed batsman, his developing medium pace bowling made him an all-rounder.
The competition has always been good in Bangladesh. There are some good spin players here. A lot depends on the pitches if theyre good, were going to have a good tournament. If theyre bad, itll then be interesting, Bopara told media after their practice session yesterday.
We expect competition against every team, but we have got the team, he added.
Bopara, who played so far 25 matches in his three seasons, said that they will try to utilise the next seven days before going into the main campaign.
Weve a week to make our adjustment with the weather and condition, he said.
The nets are never the same as the middle of the ground. Anybody can bowl well in the nets, because they are dry and every team is using the nets, he also said.
The game is always different. It is nice to be training outside in the hot weather, he added.
Recalling the past memories, the English all-rounder said that he will play with old guys along with the new players that are very nice and familiar.
Im playing with new players; Ive played with Zia (ur Rahman) before in the 50-over competition, he said.
There are some English guys and I have worked with Tom Moody in the past. (Thats) very nice and very familiar, he viewed.
Praising for Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who will lead Rangpur Riders, Ravi said that every player wishes to play with him.
Mash is a type of guy you want to play for. He gives 100 per cent so you have to give 100 per cent. It is good for any team, he said, adding: Nobody can be lazy with Mash. He is a good cricketer. He is a very accurate bowler, and he can smack the ball against the spinners. He has authority, which is good.
When asked about his personal target in this BPL, the right-handed batsman-turned-bowler said, I havent thought too much about personal goals but I want to win my team games. Bowl tightly and when I bat, get runs quickly.
