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POST TIME: 8 November, 2016 00:00 00 AM / LAST MODIFIED: 8 November, 2016 02:10:11 AM
BPL finally rolls onto ground today
Two matches on opening day
Sports Reporter

BPL finally rolls onto ground today

Dhaka Dynamites skipper Shakib Al Hasan (left) leads his team into a stretching session yesterday at the BCB Academy ground ahead of BPL-4 first match against Barisal Bulls at Mirpur in the capital. BCB Photo

The much-anticipated Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to restart today after an inclement weather put a brake on the tournament. Reigning champions Comilla Victorians will take on Chittagong Vikings while Dhaka Dynamites face off Barisal Bulls in the two games of the opening day. Both of the matches would be held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The BPL has been forced to restart with rain having played havoc with the tournament's opening fixtures - the first four games have been washed out in Mirpur without a ball being bowled.  All seven franchises of BPL 2016-17 have agreed to revised the fixture after an emergency meeting called by the governing council and have relinquished the shared points from the first four matches, which were washed out. Comilla Victorians and Rajshahi Kings, who played the tournament opener on November 4, now play their match on November 30. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s Comilla’s opponent is now Tamim Iqbal’s Chittagong Vikings which finished last in the last edition. Comilla, eying to replicate the success of last year, kept the core group of players intact with the most valuable player of the past edition Ashar Zaidi expecting to play a key role.
They also brought up Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan who had already showed his immense talent.  Comilla however had no big name in the tent but that’s what their mantra is: keep it simple and keep fighting. But their biggest advantage is their captain himself whose one shrewd decision on the field could change the complexion of the game. Chittagong is massively a changed side in both local and foreign aspect as they look to amend the mistakes done by them in the past edition.
They have recruited Chris Gayle who would be available in the halfway mark of the tournament. On paper Dhaka Dynamites remains the best team of the tournament and the fans would keep the finger crossed as to what they unleash this time.
While In middle order Shakib would get the presence of cricket brain and legends like  Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, perhaps Dhaka would be far ahead than in any other team because of the presence of Andre Russel in lower middle order.
A hard-hitter batsman, also a useful seamer Russel’s match-winning capability is well documented. He remains the long term teammate of Shakib in IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders and so their combination is expected to bring up the goods.
There is another charismatic character Dwayne Bravo, a champion in his own style and song. Bravo’s deadly slower and handy batting made Chennai Kings a supremely successful team in IPL history. If just one between Bravo and Russell plays to their potential, Dhaka would be hard to resist this time.
On paper Dhaka Dynamites looked more powerful than what Barisal got but the defending runners-up also has the player to come all guns blazing. Mahmudullah Riyad is not in the team this time but they got the core foreign players who played a vital role in propelling the team to the final.