Pitches not an issue for AB
The three big names that created the buzz at the start of the sixth edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) were those of former Australian captain Steven Smith, his former deputy David Warner and South African maestro AB de Villiers, all three playing for the first time in the tournament.
Smith has already returned to Australia and undergone surgery for an elbow injury after a short stint as skipper of Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Sixers skipper David Warner will also return to Australia after the Sylhet phase for the same reason -- an elbow injury.
However, although almost halfway through the tournament, de Villiers is expected to make his first BPL appearance today when his side Rangpur Riders take on the home side Sylhet Sixers.
The pitches at the two venues -- Dhaka and Sylhet -- have been unpredictable and both have seen quite a few low-scoring affairs. However, Rangpur can be relieved by the fact that de Villiers, hailed as Mr. 360 for his unparalleled ability to hit boundaries all around the park, mentioned that he was up for the challenge.
"The wicket is always good. You get some that turn a little bit. I don't mind. I have always enjoyed wickets that turn a bit, and then you get some good wickets as well. I have seen our last game against Sylhet. The wicket played pretty well. Hoping for that again tomorrow," de Villiers told reporters yesterday.
"It motivates me to go out and play well. I have expectations throughout my career, so it is nothing new to me. The game of cricket is up and down. You can't perform every game. I am also realistic about the sport. I don't expect too much of myself. But I do expect some fireworks from time to time."
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