Local players ready to shine in BPL
Nixon becomes first foreign coach to start duty for Chattogram
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
The National Cricket Academy of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) was jam-packed with the local players of the participating teams of the Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Unlike the previous two days practice session, they all held their third day training session without their foreign recruitments yesterday.
Barring Rajshahi Royals, all the BPL teams so far turned up to the ground for their practice session. Its learnt from the Royals insiders that they will launch their BPL practice on December 8. Rangpur Rangers, Dhaka Platoon, Sylhet Thunder, Cumilla Warriors and Khulna Tigers did their practice in the morning sessions, while Chattogram Challengers held their part in the evening session.
Even though they were keenly waiting for their overseas players, none of them will get them before Sunday. In the initial few matches, the Thunder will not get the service of their West Indies recruitments of Sherfane Rutherford, Johnson Charles and Sheldon Cottrell because the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has been included trio for their ongoing tour in India. And so, they are searching foreign players after consulting with the BCB and BPL Governing Council. Even they requested their other foreign recruited players Shafiqullah Shafaq, Naveen Ul Haque, Jeevan Mendis and Mohammed Sami.
Local coach Sarwar Imran worked hard to guide their local players in the practice session. But head coach Herschelle Gibbs will join the team on Monday. Mohammad Mithun among the local players did batting practice at nets beside his running session. After the practice session, Mithun spoke to media where he said local players have to shoulder the responsibility more than their overseas team mates.
Its a challenge for us. But there will be less challenge for those teams who have formed teams for champions on paper. They roped in big star players so there is more pressure on them said Mohammad Mithun. As we have no super star in the team, all are equal here. We all will seek to deliver our best for the team. I think if we can take the momentum, its possible to do something better with this team, Mithun told media.
When asked about pressure on local players in the absence of the star players in the team, the wicketkeeper-batsman said he sees it a good opportunity for them and that they all should capitalize it. Its, of course, a good chance for the local players. Look back to the past editions, where the local players have been outshone by the crowd of the big star players and globe-trotting players. This time as local players have responsibility more than the foreign players, its a great chance for us to capitalise it, he viewed.
However, Chattogram Challengers head coach Paul Nixon was the first coach among the overseas coaches joined the team with bowling coach Kabir Khan and supervised the practice session. Warriors head coach Ottis Gibson, Tigers James Foster, Royals Waish Shah, Thunders Herschelle Gibbs and Rangers Mark ODonnell will join the team after December 8.
