Dhaka, Rajshahi eying winning start in Bangabandhu T20 Cup

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DHAKA, Nov 23, 2020 (BSS) – Beximco Dhaka captain Mushfiqur Rahim is
upbeat to make a decent start in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup as his side will
take on Minister Group Rajshahi at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
tomorrow (Tuesday).

The match starts at 1.30 PM. State run Bangladesh Television and T
Sports will telecast the match live.

While Mushfiqur Rahim is eying to have a good start, his opposite number
Nazmul Hossain Shanto made it clear, they would leave no stone unturned to
get a positive result in the match.

Apparently, many people may mull Mushfiqur’s Dhaka is slightly weaker
than Rajshai and the reason is quite reasonable. Apart from him, Naim Sheikh
and Sabbir Rahman, there are no experienced batsmen, who are capable of
winning matches on the big stage for Dhaka.

Young Tanzid Hasan Tamim will open the innings with Naim Sheikh. The
likes of Yasir Ali Chowdhury Rabbi, Rabiul Islam Robi who will come to bat
later are also quite young. Akbar Ali and Pinak Ghosh are expected to bat in
the middle order. Shahadat Hossain Dipu will accompany Sabbir Rahman in the
lower middle order.

Apart from Rubel Hossain and Nayeem Hasan, there is no big name in the
bowling department of the Beximco Dhaka. Young Abu Haider Rony, Muktar Ali
and Mehedi Hasan Rana will aid Rubel Hossain in pace bowling department while
Nasum Ahmed will partner Nayeem Hasan in spin department.

But Mushfiqur is still optimistic with his side and the reason is that
the squad includes Under-19 World Cup winning trio: Akbar Ali, Tanzid Tamim
and Shahadat Hossain Dipu.

“Hopefully Beximco Dhaka will start the tournament with good note and
finish it the same way. Our first goal is to move into the top four and of
course then we’ll play to win the title,” Mushfiqur said here today.

“Our team may look inexperienced but they are matured enough. I have
played for the last 15-16 years and have not won a single World Cup. We have
three or four players in our team who have won the World Cup. There can be no
greater pressure than winning the World Cup. If they can play up to the mark
and support those of us who are seniors then it will be a good tournament for
us.”

Like Mushfiqur’s Dhaka, the Rajshahi team is also full of youth. With
the exception of Mohammad Ashraful, Farhad Reza, Rony Talukder, Fazle Rabbi
and Arafat Sunny, everyone else is young. However, since one over is enough
to win the match in T20 cricket, the Rajshahi captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto,
is confident to get off to a flying start.

“We have a lot of young cricketers in the team. The combination is good
when you think around. I don’t think there will be a problem,” Nazmul Hossain
Shanto, who led Nazmul XI to the final of the BCB President’s Cup, said.

Shanto’s own performance in the last BPL T20 was encouraging and he was
looking to replicate that performance.

“Of course, I had a good outing in T20 cricket, specially in the last
two or three innings. I feel upbeat when I think about those innings. ‘

Shanto’s team has some problems also as their key player Mohammad
Saifuddin has already been out of the cricket for a week due to an ankle
injury. But he is reluctant to give up.

“No doubt, Saifuddin is a very important player to us. But unfortunately
maybe for the first six-seven days we won’t get him. But we don’t really have
time to think about it. Since we have a match tomorrow, we are confident as
we have some good players who can win the match,” he added.

Squad

Beximco Dhaka: Mushfiqur Rahim, Rubel Hossain, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Nasum
Ahmed, Naim Sheikh, Nayeem Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Akbar Ali, Yeasir
Ali Rabbi, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Muktar Ali, Shafiqul Islam, Abu
Haider Rony, Pinak Ghosh, Robiul Islam Robi.

Minister Group Rajshahi: Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahadi Hasan, Nazmul Hossain
Shanto, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Farhad Reza, Mohammad Ashraful, Arafat Sunny,
Ebadot Hossain, Fazle Rabbi, Rony Talukdar, Anisul Emon, Rezaur Rahman, Jaker
Ali Anik, Rakibul Hasan (Senior), Mukidul Islam Mugdho, Sunazmul Islam.