Comilla coach wants runs from Tamim and Imrul’s bat

Comilla Victorians have won one match and lost one so far in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and their long batting lineup is yet to perform up to expectations. Comilla coach Mohammad Salahuddin said that the onus is on the local players to come up with the good.

While foreign stars like Evin Lewis, Steve Smith and Shahid Afridi give real strength to their batting lineup, the presence of locals like Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and Anamul Haque Bijoy give stability with their added experience in these conditions. Comilla coach believes that the locals will adjust and light up the way for the foreigners.

"Our local batsmen are more used to the conditions since they play here a lot. If they can score then it will be an advantage for our foreign batsmen. Tamim was amongst the runs in the first game against Sylhet Sixers before he was run-out but the whole batting lineup collapsed against Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and his Rangpur Riders team.

"We have a long batting lineup so if we start well then I feel we can score big runs," he said. Tamim Iqbal and especially Imrul Kayes, two of Comilla's stalwarts have failed to fire in the tournament so far. "In the whole tournament, the locals have not been doing well. In the previous tournaments, the locals played a big role but that hasn't been the case this time. I think they will adjust themselves quickly," he opined.

"If Tamim, Imrul and Bijoy can score runs at the top and play long innings then we will be greatly benefitted," he concluded.