Star power adds lustre
It was a busy day at the BCB Academy ground in Mirpur yesterday as most of the teams conducted their last practice session on the eve of the sixth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which is set to kick off in Mirpur today.
Although the T20 format is an exciting one in itself, the buzz regarding this year's BPL has been created for different reasons. Players like former Australia skipper Steve Smith, his former deputy David Warner, and South Africa's AB De Villiers will be playing in the tournament for the first time. Smith and charismatic right-hander De Villiers will be playing for Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders respectively while Warner will be leading Sylhet Sixers.
The BPL had star power before, of course. The greatest T20 batsman, Chris Gayle, set the country alight with his exploits from 26 BPL matches, accumulating the most runs by an overseas player with 1,135 which includes five tons and a high score of 146. He will continue to add lustre this season for Rangpur Riders, but the inclusion of the three aforementioned players for the first time has the potential to lift standards even higher this season.
De Villiers, known as Mr. 360 for his ability to play the ball anywhere with some improvised shots that leave crowds in awe, is a treat to watch. The two Aussies -- Warner and Smith -- are the two players who can seal the fate of a game through their destructive styles of batting coupled with experience of playing in the two most highly-rated T20 leagues across the world -- the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash League.
West Indian Andre Russell, who will be playing for Dhaka Dynamites, spoke yesterday about how the competitiveness had been heightened by the inclusion of the aforementioned players.
"It's going to be competitive. Those guys [Warner, Smith and de Villiers] bring something special to the tournament. At the end of the day, they are human beings but they are special, especially de Villiers and David Warner -- we all know how destructive they can be. We just have to make sure that we get them out as soon as possible. The longer Warner and de Villiers bat, the more damage they can do. But these guys are good for this tournament."
The inclusion of the likes of Warner, Smith and de Villiers alongside many more exciting foreign players and local players will surely enhance the level and magnitude of the tournament, promising spectators a treat throughout.
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