T20 is perhaps not the right format Bangladesh should have opted now with the West Indies tour looming and some bilateral test series Bangladesh would be playing in 2021. Yet BCB going for Bangabandhu Cup T20 tournament would be a way of remembering the father of the nation in his birth centenary.
Five divisional teams named after sponsors have chosen squads of 16 members each. On paper by the names Gemcon Khulna appears to be strongest unit followed by Fortune Barishal and Beximco Dhaka. Gazi Group Chottogram has some impact players. Minister Rajshahi a blend of youth and experienced must be taken into consideration as well. With the prospect of the second wave of CORONA Pandemic surfacing arranging the tournament maintaining bio security protocol is a major challenge. Hope everything happens in a safe and secure manner. BCB must extract benefits and can find the nucleus of a T20 team serving Bangladesh well for qualifying for the ICC T20 championship in 2021 and 2022.
Squads:
Beximco Dhaka - Mushfiqur Rahim, Rubel Hossain, Tanjid Hossain Tamim, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Nasum Ahmed, Naim Sheikh, Nayeem Hasan, Akbar Ali, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Muqtar Ali, Shafiqul Islam, Abu Haider Rony, Pinak Ghosh, Robiul Islam Robi
Gemcon Khulna - Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Imrul Kayes, Hasan Mahmud, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Al Amin Hossain, Shamim Patwary, Ariful Haque, Shafiul Haque, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury, Shahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Islam Apu, Salman Hossain, Jahirul Islam
Fortune Barishal - Tamim Iqbal, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Taskin Ahmed, Irfan Sukkur, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Abu Jayed, Towhid Hridoy, Tanvir Islam, Sumon Khan, Saif Hassan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Parvez Hossain Emon, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Abu Sayem, Sohrawardi Shuvo
Gazi Group Chottogram - Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Kumer Das, Mohammad Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, Shoriful Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Shamsur Rahman, Nahidul Islam, Shykat Ali, Mominul Haque, Rakibul Hasan, Sanjit Saha, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mehadi Hasan
Minister Rajshahi - Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mohammad Ashraful, Farhad Reza, Arafat Sunny, Ebadat Hossain, Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, Rony Talukder, Anisul Emon, Rezaur Rahman, Jaker Ali Anik, Rakibul Hasan, Muqidul Islam Mugdho, Sunzamul Islam.
BCB tagged Shakib, Mushfique, Tamim, Mahmudullah and Mustafiz as five icons. Mashrafee reportedly recovering from injury was not considered fit at the moment. It has been informed he may be available for play from the first week of December and teams can bid for him if that happens. Players drafted were categorized in four categories A, B, C and D. Off the five teams Minister Rajshahi did not opt to pick any icon player and Gemcon Khulna roped in two of them Shakib and Mahmudullah. Rajshahi thought pace all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin would be of better utility. Beximco Dhaka chose Mr. dependable Mushfiqur Rahim from the icon, while Fortune Barishal and Gazi Group Chittagong choose Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman respectively.
Some experienced players playing consistently in local cricket like Abdur Razzak, Shahriar Nafis however was not chosen by any team as most stressed upon younger players as they had opportunity to practise during this pandemic and also considering the nature of the format. However, Bangladesh little master Mohammad Ashraful would play for not too strong looking on paper Minister Rajshahi as one of the key players.
As has been mentioned at the start Gemcon Khulna with Shakib and Mahmudullah in their fold appears the strongest. Imrul Kayes and Anamul Huq Bijoy are also there to boost their batting. Ariful Haque and Shubhagato Hom would also give depth and diversity in the batting. Though Najmul Opu along with Shakib would give spinning option yet apart from Al Amin Hossain and some young pacers Gemocon Khulna may struggle containing other teams if wicket favours pace. However, with Shakib and Mahmudullah providing the backbone Gemcon Khulna may play like Mumbai Indians did in IPL 2020.
Fortune Barishal in my opinion appears better balanced. Apart from flamboyant Tamim, Barishal roped inform Afif Dhrubo, Irfan Sukur, Mehedy Miraj Tawhid Hridoy, Saif Hasan, and Pervez Emon . The batting looks pretty strong. Taskin, Abu Jayed, Kamrul Rabbi and Sumon Khan will lead the pace attack, Miraj, Biplob would be looking after the spinning department. Bowlers win T20 matches. I think Barishal with two many quality young players will be the major challenger in Bangabandhu T20 tournament.
Beximco Dhaka with Mushfique their icon player is also a reasonably strong team. Naim Sheikh and Tanjid Hossian Tamim are the two flowering opening batsman at the moment for limited over format. Sabbir Rahman, Yasir Ali Chowdhury , Pinak Ghosh, Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Akbar Ali will be there beside Mushfique giving batting depth. Shafiqul Islam, Abu Haidar Rony and Mehedi Hasan Rana will strong pace bowling unit. Naeem Hasan, Sabbir Rahman and Nasum Ahmed will turn and tweak the ball for them. Many say as team of the Committee Beximco always gets the favour. Mushfique has to appear at his peak to drive the team anyway.
Minister Rajshahi in my opinion will be the dark horse of the tournament. True they do not have big names yet a blend of youth and experienced players they will spring many surprises. Rony Talukdar and Mohammad Ashraful will be hungry wolf for success. Nazmul Shanto, Fazle Mahmood Rabbi, Zaker Ali, Quazi Nurul Hasan are good enough batsman to bat with passion. Two quality all rounders Saifuddin and Farhad Reza may turn any match. Ebadat Hossain, Muqidul Islam, Saifuddin, Farhad Reza, Arafat Sunny and Sunjamul Islam would form good bowling unit. One must not rule Minister Rajshahi out at all. The team has some raw talents as well. No one gave any chance to Delhi Capital in IPL 2020, yet they played in the final ahead of star studded RCB and SRH.
Gazi Group Chottogram with Mustafizur Rahman as their icon would largely depend on flamboyance of Liton and Soumya to giving them flying start with the bat. Mominul, Mosaddeq and Mithun giving solidity in batting. Apart from Mustafiz, Soriful and Ziaur Rahman they appear lean with pace attack. However, it will let younger players performing and surprising. But impact players like Liton, Soumya and Mosaddek can change the complexion of any game.
We must remember big names do not mean that the team would win. The players need performing and performing consistently. T20 is a gamble where you win some and loose some. I won't say any of the five teams is weak. Some are better balanced than the others. On paper Gemcon Khulna, Fortune Barishal and Beximco Dhaka may look ahead. But it may so happen that Minister Rajshahi and Gazi Group Chottogram rock and roll.
BDST: 1350 HRS, NOV 13, 2020
AP
