Can locals join the party?

The rickshaw-puller eagerly asked this reporter on the ride to the Sylhet District Stadium yesterday: "When is the next game of Sylhet Sixers in the BPL?" He then added in a lively tone: "Our team has surprised us with two wins in the first two matches with the two foreign openers [Upul] Tharanga and that West Indian player [Andre Fletcher] did the job for us."

The buzz and intensity surrounding the Bangladesh Premier League has reached its peak in Sylhet, where almost everyone in the city is keeping a close eye on every single aspect of the matches.

After a day's break, the BPL will be back on the field today at the Sylhet International Stadium and on TV screens across the country when Chittagong Vikings take on Comilla Victorians in the day match at 2:00pm and Sylhet square off against Rajshahi Kings in the evening match at 7:00pm.

Unfortunately, in the four matches so far there have been no local names who shone brightly enough to catch the rickshaw-puller's eye, and the foreigners ruling the roost has been the real picture in the fifth edition of the BPL.

The aforementioned names are actually the two top run-getters in the tournament. Tharanga, who scored consecutive fifties in the first two games for Sylhet, tops the list with 120 runs while his partner Fletcher is in the second spot with 99 runs. There was not even one local name in the top five run-scorers' list. The one exception to the foreign dominance so far has been provided by Sylhet skipper Nasir Hossain.

Nasir is the highest wicket-taker with three scalps in two games and his economical figures along with the help of the two foreign openers are the main reasons for the home team's current place at the top of the table.

Defending champions Dhaka Dynamites, who were the first of two to be beaten by the Sixers, also managed to make a comeback in the second game with the help of two of their foreign players. Evin Lewis and Cameron Delport's blistering fifties helped Dhaka post 202 for seven and clinch a comfortable 65-run win over Khulna Titans on Sunday.

The picture was pretty similar for Rangpur Riders. Despite Mohammad Mithun top-scoring with 46 runs, it was English cricketer Ravi Bopara and Sri Lankan Thisara Perera who eventually took them through to the target in a tight chase to seal the win in their first game against Rajshahi Kings.

Chittagong Vikings, interestingly, will play their opening game of the tournament against Comilla Victorians today and might have the advantage of the nature of the pitch, condition and the opponent.

"It depends on individual. Some can learn by watching while some learn by playing, but obviously we did get some idea about our opponents regarding their batting and bowling. So we can make our plans after watching those games which will help us to prepare better," said Chittagong Vikings icon player Soumya Sarkar after the training session in Sylhet District Stadium yesterday.

Meanwhile, the high flying hosts Sylhet will look to continue their brilliant run under skipper Nasir when they take on Darren Sammy's Rajshahi  who will be looking for their first win in the second game of the day.