Inspirational Mash thrusts Abahani to zenith
The players of the title holders dominate batting and bowling chart in DPL
Sports Reporter
Abahani Limited was red-hot favourite to win the Dhaka Premier Cricket Division League title ever since they formed a team with a fine combination of young and senior players. Albeit minor blip, they justified the tag, clinching the trophy in emphatic fashion to end the season on a high.
Luck was on their side during the players draft as they got their desired players without much fuss and later they brought up Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in their tent from Shinepukur Sporting Club on mutual consent. Despite he is in the twilight of his career, Mashrafes presence in the club was a big boost, specially for the young players.
Mashrafe was supposed to get the captaincy but the man himself declined the offer, saying that he wanted to concentrate on his bowling more as the 2019 World Cup is his firm focus.
Nasir Hossain was given the captaincy but Mashrafe was seen to take the important decision when it needed. Mashrafe himself however was the form of his life that helped the side prove its status of red-hot favourite throughout the league. The man dubbed as Narail Express took highest 39 wickets, a record for any Bangladeshi bowler in a single league since it got the status of List A cricket in 2013.
Apart from his bowling, he charged up junior players by inspiring at different phases when it looked they were going to loss the track. Specially the youngster Nazmul Hossain Shanto was benefited most from the ever inspirational Mashrafes advice in different time in the league and the result was obvious. Shanto topped the batting chart with 749 runs at an average of 57.61, hitting four centuries and two half-centuries.
Not only Shanto, his opening partner Anamul Haque Bijoy also seemed to rekindle his form with direct inspiration from Mashrafe. Bijoy came to the league after being dropped from the national team but got back amongst runs in the league with second highest scorer. His 744 runs at an average of 49.60 with two centuries and four half-centuries once again staked his claim for the national spot.
I didnt do anything special for them, Mashrafe said. I just said them to enjoy their game. What I believe is that enjoy the game is the most powerful mantra in cricket, Mashrafe said.
Mashrafes little speech ahead of the crucial game or little advice when any players look off-coulour worked well for the team, said Nazmul Hossain Shanto.
The presence of Mashrafe in the dressing was a huge boost for us. He inspired us in many ways, specially when we were unable to score runs, said Shanto.
He always took the pressure from us before the crucial match and inspired to play the natural game, regardless of the match scenario. He sometimes delivered inspirational speech ahead of the crucial game that helped us to gel together well.
Apart from Shanto and Bijoy, captain Nasir Hossain was the other from Abahani who scored 500 plus runs in the league. Nasir was not amongst runs initially but when it mattered most, he delivered nicely. His 91 ball-129 runs in the last match of the league against Legends of Rupganj was standout.
While Abahanis batting looked strong throughout league, the bowling was completely relied on Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. He was the only bowler from Abahani in the top 10, indicating how one-man show the Abahani bowling was. Mashrafe however did his primary duty in such perfect way that he topped the bowling by far distance.
When he topped the bowling chart with 39 wickets, the next best was 29, captured by Legend of Rupganjs Asif Hasan.
To be honest, my target was not to get wickets, my goal was to keep me disciplined, bowl wicket-to-wicket, Mashrafe said. Yes I didnt take the captaincy role in a bid to concentrate on my bowling because I wanted to try some new things along with keeping my fitness. Since there was no International commitment for me, fitness was key issue for me. However the way the things panned out, I am really happy.
