Struggling Abahani Limited take on archrivals Mohammedan Sporting Club  at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today in a bid to get back to the winning-track in the Dhaka Premier League.
Even though the zeal of the rivalry doesn’t climb to the fever pitch like the heydays, the battle between the two traditional foes kept the players motivates to rise on the occasion. The game will also shape the point table in which the Mohammedan are in now pole position.  
“The game between Abahani and Mohammedan also generates people interest. This match has different appeal to the media and club officials also. They term this rivalry as prestigious issue,” said Abahani captain Tamim Iqbal, pointing out the importance of the battle.
“This is a big match, so it’s a challenge. We have been in cornered situation at the moment, losing two out of five. We haven’t been at our best. This is the opportunity to rise our game on the  big moment.”
Mushfiqur Rahim-led Mohammedan lost just one match and earned eight points in five matches. Prime Doleshwar also have eight points but Mohammedan at the moment are in lead with better run-rate. The victory against the old foes will certainly take them in advantageous position while a defeat would leave Abahani’s prospect to clinch the title bleak after five years.
The Dhanmondi outfit though won three matches, they were not in commanding position apart from the first match against Kalabagan Krira Chakra. Their captain Tamim Iqbal scores in every match but he couldn’t convert those to a big score as of now. The most weak-link in Abahani’s batting is now Liton Das, the wicket-keeper whose bad patch still continues.
Tamim backed Liton to regain his form in the crucial moment, “He is our key player. We have been supporting him to get back to the form. Hitting a confident boundary could give him a confidence. What I always believe that if a play could face eight to 10 balls well, he will get back to form.”
But what is alarming according to Tamim, is his own form as he said, “I am being dismissed after scoring 50 or 60, that doesn’t send good message. I have to convert my innings to big score. If a player can play big knock, the other shortcomings doesn’t look so horrible.”
Tamim however said the history of the two teams would keep them motivated to come all guns blazing and bounce back from the defeat of the last match.
“The likes of Akram Khan, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Aminul Islam Bulbul played for those two teams for 15 or more years at a stretch. The current players didn’t get that chance so the feelings of those players and the current players will not be the same. But everybody knows how important the match is. Everybody knows they are representing the teams which have rich tradition. So there’s no way to underestimate it.”
While Tamim looked serious about the battle, Mohammedan wasn’t keen to leave an inch. Apart from the glory, they have also to gain many things from here. The victory would help them to tighten the noose in the point table and keep them in advantageous position to clinch the title after 2010. As of now, they have been going great under the leadership of Mushfiqur who is playing for Mohammedan for the first time in his career.
Mohammedan coach Sohel Ahmed said his players are motivated to keep the winning run and thereby kept their lead position intact.
In the day's other matches, Prime Bank will take on Victoria at BKSP-3 while Prime Doleshwar will face of Legends of Rupganj at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.