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POST TIME: 9 February, 2019 00:00 00 AM
Shakib hits BPL record book
Sports Reporter, Dhaka

Shakib hits BPL record book

Dhaka Dynamites Caribbean all-rounder Sunil Narine (R ) greets his skipper Shakib Al Hasan after the latter takes the wicket of Comilla Victorians’ Anamul Haque (not in picture) to make the BPL bowling record (23 wickets) during the final match of BPL-6 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital yesterday. BCB photo

Shakib Al Hasan added another feather to his illustrious career by becoming the highest wicket-taker in a single season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The ace all-rounder, playing for Dhaka Dynamites scalped one wicket in the final against Comilla Victorians, that took his wicket tally to 23 in this season. No other bowler in the BPL history did take more than 22 wickets, with Shakib himself sharing the record with Khulna Titans West Indies recruit Kevon Cooper.

Cooper got 22 wickets in 2015 BPL while Shakib emulated him in 2017. Shakib had the chance to eclipse Cooper’s record in the last season but a Chris Gayle-storm in that final prevented him from doing so.

He however didn’t miss the chance this season as he trapped Anamul Haque Bijoy leg-before for 24 to go past himself and Cooper.

But a Tamim Iqbal-storm meant he finished with one for 45 in fours over in the final.

This year of BPL however could be termed as the golden season for Bangladeshi bowlers as the top five  bowlers in bowling chart were from Bangladesh and there was no space for foreign bowlers.

Fast bowlers Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain ended with 22 wickets, just one wicket behind Shakib while pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin scalped 18 wickets. Narine shared the fifth position with Saifuddin but while the Bangladeshi pacer played just 13 matches to take those wickets, Narine took 15 matches.

However Sunil Narine and Shahid Afridi were the only two foreign bowlers in the top 10 in bowling chart, evidencing how dominant the local bowlers in this edition of the BPL.  Afridi had 16 wickets so far. Abu Jayed Rahi, Farhad Reza and young pace Khaled Ahmed finished with 17 wickets each to bracket them in the top 10 of bowling chart.

Apart from Shakib, all the local bowlers in the top 10 are fast bowlers, which also demonstrated the skill of Bangladeshi fast bowling group and while Bangladesh would play most their matches in this year in the overseas soil, it is indeed a pleasing news for the team management.

Saifuddin and Afridi’s wicket may increase since they were bowling till filing of this report.