With two high profile T20 tournament- Asia Cup and World Twenty20 knocking at the door, it is high time for the Bangladesh players to cope with the format as they found the newest version of the cricket as particularly tough. Their recent performance in this format indicated that they need to play more games in this version to correct the mistakes and learn to art of the T20 batting. Bangladesh this year played five T20 International matches, among which they won just two.
Most recently their performance against Zimbabwe was a matter of huge criticism even though they drew the two-match series. In those two matches, Bangladesh batsmen neither improvise the shots nor showed a tenacity of playing according to the situation of the match.
The third edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) could provide the players a platform to learn the art of T20 batting, believed everyone related to the cricket. Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim also complied with the fact, stating, the BPL which set to roll on the ground on Sunday, following a gala opening ceremony could be a great platform for the local players to prepare them for the Asia Cup and World Twenty20.
“It’s now matter of using the platform. We are not consistent in this format of cricket though it is tough to be consistent always but at least we should learn to how we can respond according to the situation. We, the players should utilise this platform to prepare us,” Mushfiqur, captain of Sylhet Superstars told the reporters yesterday.
Mushfiqur also found another good thing of BPL that is set to organise after two years gap. He said the players who are now out of the national team could show the glimpse of their talent through this tournament.
“There are many players who are now not in the team. For them it’s also a great platform to reinforce their case. The tournament is not only the platform for the young players and it’s not always right that the T20 is all about the tournament for young players. We need a perfect blend of youth and experienced players. There are so many experienced players who could take it as the platform to get back to the national team,” he added.
“There is great chance to share the dressing room with the likes of Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara, Shahid Afridi. The players can learn many things from them. The BPL also enhanced our technique and skill which evidenced in our performance in 2012 Asia Cup in which we moved to the final.”
The third edition of the tournament is going to begin after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cleared all the irregularities including match fixing and payment fiasco that tarnished the image of the tournament. Mushfiqur thought this year’s BPL will be fair and high standard. The wicket-keeper batsman was the highest run getter of the last version and he had no reservation to admit that he would try to enhance his reputation as a consistent performer.
“Every player has a dream to be the highest run getter or highest wicket-taker. I am no different. I want to see my team in the top position and want me to contribute in taking my team to the highest position,” he said. The target is to confirm the final berth for the time being, said Mushfiqur.
“We want to play as a unit. Our team is well balanced as we have the good pacers and spinner. We have power-hitter who could dazzle in the death over. We have some quality foreign players also. So we can expect for the best. But as of now, our target is to play consistent cricket and secure the final berth,” he pointed out.