Dhaka Platoon head coach Mohammad Salahuddin said that he would mostly rely on experienced and young cricketers rather than impact of big players like Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal to come out successful in the upcoming special edition of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League, slated to be played from December 11, 2019 to January 17, 2020. Being a local coach, Mohammad Salahuddin, who won the BPL trophy twice for the same side Cumilla Victorians in 2015 and 2019 respectively, also said he is yet again ready to take the challenge lifting the trophy for Dhaka Platoon in this BPL.
After conducting two separate practice sessions with Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque at the academy ground of the SBNCS yesterday, Salahuddin told reporters, “For the T20 format of cricket, I always think of experienced cricketers rather than the presence of big players in the squad. In T20 cricket experienced campaigners should be given value than any other players. To come out successful in this format, I always bank on experience cricketers because having them in the side give you an extra advantage to take quick and effective decisions on the field. I always keep focus on that. At this stage, if players’ can maintain their fitness level and return to form as soon as possible, I can say we are at right direction.”
“T20 is a team-work game. The main thing is the team’s success mostly rely on how local players get going in the tournament. Only four overseas players can play in each side. So, the role of other seven local players are very much crucial. If you cannot properly utilize them, you will fail ultimately. At their respective positions, they must play good cricket. Everyone has to perform their own role to become successful, Salahuddin said of the importance of local players in the squad.
Dhaka Platoon, the top title contender and likely to win the BPL seventh edition, roped in both Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal as the two most experienced local players along with Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, fast bowler Wahab Riaz and Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera. About lifting the trophy, Salahuddin said that he has been dealing with some extra responsibilities being a local coach in this BPL and also been given another opportunity to overcome the new challenge again.
“Seven teams are participating in this BPL and the main target of each team is the same, that is to win trophy. It would sound nonsense if anyone said that we are not going to be the champions. But, if you talk about me then I will say, I have to do something better as a local coach. I am considering it as an important aspect for me and other local coaches too and ready to take the extra challenges ahead of me,” the Platoon coach opined.
Since Bangladesh ODI team captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is set to feature for Dhaka Platoon in this BPL, it is believed that he will be handed the responsibility to lead the side once again for his tremendous captaincy record in the BPL. He lifted trophy for four times with Dhaka Gladiators, Dhaka Dynamites, Cumilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders.
Despite being having Mashrafe, Dhaka Platoon yet to announce the name of their captain officially. Regarding the matter Salahuddin said, “We haven’t sit with that issue. At first, we have to organise all other official procedures. Completing all those we will work on our team plan.”
In the meantime, Tamim Iqbal returned to practice at the SBNCS after a long break. He was seen batting at the nets for about an hour with his mentor and also Dhaka Platoon Coach Mohammad Salahuddin.
“It seems he is at good stage right at the moment. Since he was out of action for a long time, he should give extra time in the nets and practice more. He is connecting the ball well. I think he will get back to full rhythm after a few days,” Salahuddin said of Tamim Iqbal.