Still calm before the BBPL storm

Even as the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) nears its start date of December 11, the usual pre-BPL excitement is missing. Teams like Dhaka Platoon, Chattogram Challengers, Rangpur Rangers and Sylhet Thunders did start practising at the Academy Ground in Mirpur yesterday but the foreign players and coaches of the respective teams -- other than those of Dhaka Platoon, the only team in BPL with a local coach in the form of Mohammad Salahuddin -- are yet to join.

While the rest of the three teams are supposed to start their practice from today, the foreign players are supposed to join their respective teams from December 8, the slated date for the grand opening ceremony of the country’s biggest domestic T20 league.

Sylhet Thunder all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, who practised with his team yesterday, said that this edition will be a platform for players to prove their mettle ahead of the T20 World Cup in October 2020.

“BPL is a great platform for creating players. The ones who will play well here will have a chance to feature for the national side. We have the T20 World Cup coming up. I am looking forward to doing well,” said the 23-year old all-rounder.

Meanwhile, unlike Mosaddek, Chattogram Challengers’ wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan was inclined to keep his targets to himself.

“I am more willing to work for the aim I have for the BPL rather than just talking about it. I try not to speak out loud about the target I have set for myself.” said Nurul after practice in Mirpur yesterday.