Abahani form perfect team to retain premier league title
Shinepukur to fight with a promising side
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Reigning champions Abahani Limited have formed a team that is brimmed with young and in-form players like Liton Kumar Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim Sheikh along with Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Saifuddin. Of them, Liton Das, who struck the record highest individual score of 176 as Bangladesh batsman in the recently-concluding ODI home series against Zimbabwe beside his back-to-back T20 half-centuries.
Shanto, who slammed century in Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as the fifth batsman after Mohamamd Ashraful, Shahriar Nafees, Sabbir Rahman and Tamim Iqbal. Afif Hossain drew attention from all with his electrifying fielding and handy bowling and batting skill. Mohammad Naim Sheikh blasted a fifty-plus score against top-notch India, while Mohammad Mithun proved his worth against India and Pakistan in Bangladesh tour. Mohammad Saifuddin showcased his jaw-dropping performance returning from his lengthy injury lay-off.
Top-order batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto believes to fare well in the imminent Dhaka Premier League (DPL) if they can play according to their skills and strength. Shanto said they are focusing more on their skills and strength not to worry about the opponent. Maximum teams have been balanced this year. But we are not worried much about the other teams. Our team has also been good, I think. If we can play as per our strength, its obviously possible to do well this time around, said Nazmul Hossain Shanto.
Overall, our batting and bowling remain very good. It deems to me that our fielding will be advantageous for us. If you look at the squad, you will see we have Liton Kumar Das, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and I are in the squad. So, I think fielding can make a difference to other teams. Mohammad Saifuddin has been doing well for the team for the last few years. Shohidul bhai has done well in BPL. If they can bowl in right areas, there will be no problem, I think, Shanto told reporters after holding their second day practice at the BCB-National Cricket Academy (NCA) ground yesterday.
Starting is always important in every series or tournament. Were not worried about our oppositions against whom we will play or play. There is nothing small or big. If we can play our strength match by match, itll then be possible to do well, he added. However, Shinepukur Sporting Club head coach Talha Jubair said they have picked young players so that they can show their brilliance in the field. He also said the more they play the more they will be experienced and better.
Last year we had experienced players. From that point of view, we are a bit on the backfoot. It is a premier league game but we have no experienced players that are a big concern for us Talha Jubair said. Weve three U19 players-Tawhid Rhidoy, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Hasan Murad. Actually they will be more experienced to play more games. The more they play the more itll be better for them. Weve tried to form a young side. There is an advantage to having a young side because they can showcase their brilliance in the field, he added.
