Local Bangladeshi players are yet to demonstrate their prowess in the shortest version of cricket in the ongoing sixth edition of Bangladesh Premiere League (BPL).
At the end of the tournament’s fourth day, former national team captain Mushfiqur Rahim on Wednesday said local players would need more time to put up good performance.
“It is tough to play well in BPL for guys who don’t play for the national team. They play only one T20 tournament a year. So, it’s tough for them to play well at the beginning of the tournament,” Mushfiqur, the Chittagong Vikings captain, told the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
He said things were different for those who play for the national side in all three formats throughout the year. “So, doing well in T20s is comparatively easier for us,” he said.
Mushfiqur said he felt the local players would perform well as the tournament progressed. “I think another T20 tournament at the domestic level is needed to help the local guys adapt to this format,” he said.
He recognised difficulties in arranging tournaments due to tight cricketing schedule, saying: “But if we [can], then it will help our country’s cricket.”
His team lost to Sylhet Sixers in a last over thriller earlier in the day. Robbie Frylinck hit Al Amin Hossain for two sixes but the Vikings lost the match by five runs. Mushfiqur appreciated the approach of his players.
“It was not an impossible target since we had a batsman in the middle. The first two balls were most important. He (Frylinck) managed to hit two boundaries, but 24 runs in six balls is too much to expect. What we did was enough for making a good fight for our team,” he told the post-match press conference.
Despite their loss, the skipper feels his team is moving on the right track. “Every team want an imperious start to the tournament, every team want to settle their combination in the first match. In that sense, we have had good two matches at the start of BPL. I am rather happy with our performance,” he said.
Mirpur’s wicket was often criticised for its rigors during the BPL. But Mushfiqur insisted it was ‘sporting’ and was pretty well compared to any other day’s wicket.
“You see on the other days one team collapse and another team do well. But today, we saw both the teams scored easily. Despite losing three wickets in six runs, they have (Sylhet Sixers) scored about 170 runs (168). It proved the wicket is better than any other days,” Mushfiqur said.
