BPL
BPL 2023 Final Preview: Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians, Who Will Win the Title?
The ninth season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) started quietly on January 6 as there was no opening ceremony for the spectators. Also, the tournament was criticized from the beginning due to several reasons. However, as the matches were played, the tournament became exciting. And the final game Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians is ready to take place on February 16. Both teams will enter the final with 18 points with nine wins and three losses. So, it can be said that the match will be highly competitive. So, who will win the 2023 BPL? Let’s explore.
BPL 2023 Final Venue, Schedule
The BPL 2023 final will take place on February 16 at Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Mirpur. The game will begin at 6:30 PM. However, the closing ceremony featuring Nagarbaul (James), Warfaze, and Maqsood O’ Dhaka will start at 3 PM.
Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians 2023 BPL Final Preview
The reigning champions, Comilla Victorians, lost their first three matches in the BPL this year. After that, there is no loss. After winning ten matches in a row, they were the first to reach the finals. They are being quickly separated from the rest of the teams in the playoff round, considering sync in the squad.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Khushdil Shah returned after playing a major role in the league phase of the tournament. However, their absence was not felt at all in Comilla in the playoffs. Before the playoffs, they added franchise T20 world-renowned names.
Read More: BPL 2023: Strikers march into final in first for Sylhet franchise
With the addition of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Moeen Ali, Comilla looks quite different from the rest of the teams. In the first qualifier game against Sylhet Strikers on Sunday, the most successful team of the BPL Comilla emerged victorious, stopping their opponents at 125 runs. Apart from foreign cricketers, the country’s best opener Litton Das, cutter master Mustafizur Rahman is also the big hope of the team in the final.
On the other hand, Sylhet Strikers have never played in the final in BPL before. However, Sylhet reached the final for the first time under the leadership of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the most successful captain in BPL history.
As a captain, Mashrafe reached the BPL final for a record fifth time. And with the Mashrafe’s leadership, they were seen as different from the beginning of the season. Sylhet Strikers entered the BPL final for the first time by defeating Rangpur Riders by 19 runs in the fiercely contested second eliminator.
Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians Head to Head at BPL
So far Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Strikers have met 13 times in BPL. The 2023 final will be their 14th meeting. Out of the 13 meetings, they played each other 3 times this year. Victorians have won 10 matches so far, while Sylhet Strikers were able to win 3 matches. This year, Sylhet won one game out of the three. Among all their matchups, their first group stage match in 2020, BPL was highly competitive. The match was tied, and Comilla won the game in the super-over.
Read More: BPL 2023: Tickets for Final Available on Wednesday
BPL 2023 Final: Probable Playing XI
Sylhet Strikers:
Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Ryan Burl, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Imad Wasim, Gulbadin Naib, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Amir, Rubel Hossain.
Comilla Victorians:
Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Litton Das, Imrul Kayes (c), Mosaddek Hossain, Jaker Ali, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mukidul Islam, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Key Players to Watch in Sylhet Strikers
The team contains some of the best players in the tournament. However, a few of them have been consistent throughout the tournament. Let’s get to know about them.
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Shanto has been very promising this season. He has some match-winning performances, such as 60 runs against Chattogram Challengers and 89 runs (not out) against Fortune Barishal. Apart from these outstanding performances, Shanto has played a significant role in the team as a batter. Even he had the highest score with 38 runs against the Victorians in the first qualifier match. So, he might lead the team to victory in the final game.
Read More: 4 BPL players and coaches fined for breaching code of conduct.
Towhid Hridoy
He has been a hard hitter in 2023 BPL. He won four players of the match this season. Hridoy delivered some incredible batting skills. Among his hard-hitting performances, 85 runs from 57 balls against Rangpur Riders and 84 runs from 46 balls against Dhaka Dominators are notable. So, it can be said that he has the ability to change the momentum of a game. And it is clear that Sylhet will surely rely on him in the final.
Rubel Hossain
Rubel was a key performer in the first qualifier match against Comilla Victorians as he took 3 wickets. So, he is expected to repeat his performance in the final. Rubel’s best performance came against the Khulna Tigers. In that match, he took four wickets.
Key Players to Watch in Comilla Victorians
Comilla picked some star players in the auction. And most of those star players were perfectly used. However, the following players might make a difference in the final.
Litton Das
The opener Litton Das is a key batter for Comilla this season. He has some top scores for the team, such as 70 runs from 42 balls against Sylhet Strikers and 47 runs against Rangpur Raiders. Since he was outstanding against Sylhet, Litton will surely try to repeat his batting style and help Victorians to collect a big score.
Read More: 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Prospect of Bangladesh Squad
Mohammad Rizwan
Rizwan has a great chance to help Victorians in the final in both wicket keeping and batting. He has scored some match-winning runs in the group stage. For example, 61 runs from 47 balls against the Chattogram Challengers and 54 runs against the Khulna Tigers.
Mukidul Islam
Mukidul Islam is the master of keeping Comilla’s goal within reach. He gave his best performance against Fortune Barishal. This young man took 5 wickets for just 23 runs with the best bowling record among Bangladeshi pacers in BPL history. This is the first 5 wickets of his T20 career. He seems to be very promising, and it is sure that Mukidul will give his best in the final against the Sylhet Strikers.
Who will Win BPL 2023?
Considering the facts and this year’s performance, Comilla Victorians has a great chance to win the BPL 2023. Comilla, who have won three BPL title, have a wealth of experience in playing big games.
Foreign players in Comilla Victorians also regularly play intense matches in other franchises. It looks like it will be easier to keep the nerves in the finals this time as well. Playoffs and finals are always pressured games and require a lot of nerve to play.
Read More: Bangladesh vs England ODI Series 2023 Preview: Schedule, Fixtures, Team
Almost all the Victorians players have a lot of experience in finals. So, the team will benefit from the experienced players, and Comilla will certainly have an advantage like the previous year. They almost lost the whole match in BPL 2022 final, but they managed to hold their nerve at the very end, and they won the title. And they are looking to win this year too.
On the other hand, Mashrafe will lead the Sylhet Strikers. This will be his 5th BPL final, and Mashrafe won all four finals. The former captain of the national team reached the final of the BPL after six years. Last time he won the title with Rangpur Raiders, and the Raiders achieved their first title by defeating Dhaka Dynamites in 2017.
Since Mashrafe made it a rule to win titles if he reaches the BPL final, we cannot deny Sylhet’s chance this year. Veteran cricketer Mashrafe's tactics will surely increase the chances for Sylhet.
Read More: BAN vs ENG Series 2023: England Squad Analysis
Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians 2023 BPL Final’s Ticket Price
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released the ticket price list for the BPL final. The minimum ticket price for Thursday’s final match at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium is Tk 300. The game can be watched sitting in the Eastern Stand for 300 takas. Tickets for North and South Stands cost Tk 400, and Club House costs Tk 800. Ticket prices for the VIP stand have been set at Tk 1500, and tickets for the Grandstand can be purchased for a maximum of 2000 taka.
These tickets can be collected from the counters next to Gate No. 1 of Mirpur Stadium and Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium, Mirpur, both the day before and on the day of the match, between 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM.
BPL 2023 Closing Ceremony
Although the whole tournament was dull, BCB is trying to give a boost to the final by arranging a closing ceremony. Popular bands Nagarbaul (James) and Warfaze will grace the stage before the final. And it is expected that Maqsood O’ Dhaka will also join.
Read More: 'Chandika not as strict as we think': Khaled Mahmud
Final Words
It will be an intense moment for the Sylhet Strikers as they have reached the final for the first time. On the other hand, Comilla Victorians will be looking to bag their fourth title and second in a row. Hence, there is no doubt that the BPL 2023 final will be highly competitive as both teams have some top-class players who can change the game anytime. So, who do you think will win the 2023 BPL trophy in the final match Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians?
BPL 2023: Tickets for Final Available on Wednesday
Tickets for the final of the ongoing season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will be available for purchase from tomorrow, Wednesday, 15 February 2023.
The final of BPL 2023 promises to be an exciting event for cricket fans, with an added bonus of a grand concert featuring some of the best local bands and singers.
According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive officer, Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, the concert is expected to start at approximately 3 pm on match day, followed by the final match at 6:30 pm.
Fans can buy tickets for the match from the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur and the ticket booth adjacent to Gate 1 of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, also in Mirpur.
The ticket prices for the different stands are as follows: Grand Stand - TK 2,000, VIP Stand - TK 1,500, Club House - TK 800, North/South Stand - TK 400, and Eastern Stand - TK 300.
The tickets will be sold on match day and the day before. Ticket counters and booths will open from 9:30 am and continue until 7:30 pm, subject to the availability of tickets.
BPL Football: Bashundhara take unbeaten run to nine matches beating Sheikh Jamal 3-0
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings earned their ninth straight win in the eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, beating Sheikh Jamal 3-0 Saturday at the Bashundhara Sports Complex in the capital.
Runaway league leader Bashundhara secured 27 points. Second-placed Dhaka Abahani earned 18 points from eight matches.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club remained in the fifth slot with 12 points from eight matches.
Read: BCB congratulates Women's U-20 football team for winning SAFF U-20 Championship
In today's match, Uzbek midfielder Asror Gafurov put the Kings ahead in the 37th minute (1-0). Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes netted two more goals in the 60th and 74 (3-0).
In the day's other match, Rahmatganj Muslim Friend Society beat Chittagong Abahani 1-0 at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj.
After a barren first, Mohammad Enamul scored the winner for Old Dhaka club Rahmatganj MFS in the 79th minute (1-0).
Rahmatganj MFS advanced to the eighth spot in the league table, securing eight points from as many matches. Chittagong Abahani remained in 10th place with four points from eight matches.
BCB to mark month of language during BPL matches Friday
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will pay homage to language martyrs and mark the month of language during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches Friday.
All commentators and hosts will don specially designed attires with the Bengali alphabet imprinted on them tomorrow.
They also will delve into the rich history and importance of International Mother Language Day during the matches, in both English and Bangla.
This will be an exceptional moment for Bangladeshi fans, as the commentators will provide commentary in Bangla and non-Bengali commentators will also try to incorporate some Bangla words into their commentaries, said the BCB.
Before the start of the matches, players will be interviewed in Bangla. English will be used only if a non-Bengali player is named the player of the match. The post-match presentations and interviews will also be conducted in Bangla to underscore the reverence for the mother tongue.
All players, match officials, commentators, and hosts will don special armbands with the Bangla alphabet printed on them to express their support for the language.
To enhance the celebration, a selection of words from the month of language will be showcased on the giant screen in the field.
Bangladesh observes Amar Ekushey – the Language Martyrs Day (Shaheed Day) and the International Mother Language Day – on February 21 to mark the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes in 1952 for upholding the right to speak their mother tongue Bangla.
The day is also observed around the world as UNESCO on November 17, 1999, recognised the Ekushey February as International Mother Language Day to celebrate the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity.
Read more: PM opens Ekushey Book Fair 2023 in person for first time in 3 years
BPL 2023: Rangpur overpower Chattogram by seven wickets
Rangpur Riders beat Chattogram Challengers by seven wickets in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Wednesday in Mirpur.
It was the last match of Chattogram in the league. They lost nine of the 12 matches they played. However, with today's win, Rangpur still have the chance to top the table.
Chattogram won the toss and elected to bat first, but they were able to score only 132 runs for eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Rangpur Riders chased down the target in just 16 overs, scoring 135 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Opener Max O'Dowd was dismissed for 11 off 9 balls while Usman Khan scored only two runs.
Mehedi Maruf was caught by Hasan Mahmud off Haris Rauf after scoring four runs. Afif Hossain scored 15 runs with three boundaries.
Tawfique Khan top scored 28 runs off 26 deliveries for Chattogram with three boundaries and a six.
For Rangpur Riders, Haris took two wickets for just 14 runs in his four overs.
Chasing 136 runs, Rangpur Riders started well as Mohammad Naim and Rony Talukdar put on a good partnership. Naim was the first wicket to fall, scoring 20 runs off 12 deliveries. Talukdar scored 28 runs off 27 deliveries.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz top scored 46 runs off just 30 deliveries for Rangpur Riders. After his dismissal, Nurul Hasan and Tom Kohler-Cadmore played responsible innings to take their team over the line. Nurul scored 15 not out and Kohler-Cadmore 20 not out.
In their last league phase match, Rangpur will take on Comilla Victorians on February 10.
Read more: BPL observes one-minute silence for earthquake victims in Turkey, Syria
BPL: Sylhet secure their place in top-two of playoffs
The Sylhet Strikers, led by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, secured their place in the top-two of playoffs of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the Khulna Tigers on Wednesday in Mirpur.
The Strikers secured their spot in the top two by effortlessly defeating the Tigers by six wickets, despite Mashrafe not being able to bowl a single over in the game due to a potential muscle injury upon his return to the field.
Khulna, who batted first after winning the toss, started poorly, losing a couple of early wickets and being reduced to 21/3 in the sixth over.
Imad Wasim, Rubel Hossain, and Tanzim Hossain Sakib all took wickets with the ball for the Strikers, with Sakib picking up three, Imad and Rubell two each, and Mohammad Amir one.
Chasing a target of 114, the Strikers lost their openers early, but a 90-run partnership between Zakir Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim sealed the win. Zakir scored a fifty off 46 balls and Mushfiqur played a 39-run knock of 35 balls.
Imad Wasim was named player of the match for his fantastic spell of 4-0-10-2. Mashrafe expressed his delight at finishing in the top two and acknowledged that the team would miss Imad and Amir as they head to the Pakistan Super League.
Khulna's captain, Shai Hope, admitted that the players let themselves down, citing poor execution as the reason for the loss. It was Khulna’s ninth defeat in 11 matches. They will play the last match of the season on February 10th against Fortune Barishal.
BPL: Talukdar, Naim power Rangpur Riders to 8-wicket win
Rangpur Riders beat Sylhet Strikers by eight wickets on Saturday in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Mirpur.
With the win, the Riders kept their chances of topping the table in the league phase alive.
Put in to bat first, the Strikers scored 170-2 in 20 overs. Towhid Hridoy scored 85 runs off 57 balls with 13 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Najmul Hossain Shanto's innings was cut short by Hasan Mahmud, as he was dismissed after scoring 15 runs off 22 balls. Next, Zakir Hasan was caught by Aaron Jones off Mahedi Hasan after scoring 7 runs from as many balls.
The Strikers' stand-in captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, held the innings together and remained unbeaten on 55 runs off 35 balls with five fours and three sixes.
Mahedi Hasan and Hasan Mahmud took one wicket each for the Riders.
The Riders had a strong start to their run chase. Rony Talukdar scored 66 runs off 35 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Mohammad Naim scored 45 runs off 32 balls with six fours.
Shoaib Malik also played a crucial role in the Riders' victory, scoring an unbeaten 41 runs off 24 balls. His innings included four fours and one six. The Riders reached their target of 171 runs in 18 overs with the loss of two wickets.
Read more: BPL 2023: Victorians Continue Winning Streak with a 6-Wicket Win Over Challengers
BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani beat Sheikh Jamal 2-1 to continue unbeaten run
Former champions Dhaka Abahani continued their unbeaten run in the eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football after beating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 2-1 at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Saturday.
With today's win, the Dhanmondi club remained in the second spot in the league table, securing 18 points from eight matches. Defending champions Bashundhara Kings topped the table with 24 points from eight straight matches.
With their first defeat in the league, former champions Sheikh Jamal slipped to the fourth spot with 12 points from seven matches
In today's match, Nigerian forward Peter Nworah put Abahani ahead in the 10th minute (1-0). Costa Rica forward Daniel Colindres doubled the lead in the 34th minute (2-0).
St Vincent and the Grenadines forward Stewart pulled one back for Sheikh Jamal in the 70th minute from a penalty (2-1).
In the day's other league match, Sheikh Russell beat Azampur Football Club Uttara 1-0 at the Bashundhara Sports Complex in the afternoon.
After a goalless first half, Didier scored the winner for Sheikh Russell in the 55th minute from a penalty.
Raihan of Azampur FC received a direct red card.
In the day's other match, Bangladesh Police advanced to the third spot in the league table after beating Rahmatganj MFS 2-0 at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj in the afternoon.
Kyrgyz defender Malikov scored first for Police FC in the 22nd minute from a penalty (1-0) while midfielder Mateo doubled their lead in the 72nd (2-0).
Police FC advanced to the third spot in the league after securing 12 points from eight matches with a positive goal difference.
Also read: BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings continue unbeaten run beating Sheikh Russell 3-1
BPL demonstrates a perfect nail-biter as Sylhet beat Barishal by 2 run
The Sylhet Strikers secured a dramatic 2-run victory over Fortune Barishal in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Tuesday, which came as a perfect example of a nail-biting finish.
The Strikers, who were put to bat first, put up a strong total of 173 for five in their 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant innings from Najmul Hossain Shanto who remained not out on 89 off 66 balls, including 11 fours and 1 six. He was well supported by Tom Moores who scored 40 off 30 balls, hitting 4 fours and 1 six.
The Strikers' innings got off to a rocky start, losing Zakir Hasan for a duck in the second over, and then losing Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim in quick succession, leaving the team reeling at 15 for 3. But Shanto and Moores put on a 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket to steady the innings. Thisara Perera also contributed with a quickfire 21 off 16 balls. But unfortunately, Imad Wasim retired hurt on 5 off 2 balls.
For Barishal, Mohammad Wasim scalped three wickets conceding 34 runs while Shakib Al Hasan and Kamrul Islam took one wicket each.
In response, Fortune Barishal got off to a good start, with Saif Hassan scoring 31 off 19 balls, including 4 sixes, and Ibrahim Zadran scoring 42 off 37 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Also Read: BPL 2023: Comilla's winning streak continues
But the Strikers' bowlers fought back strongly and were able to restrict the Barishal to 171 for 8 in 20 overs. Rejaur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers, taking 3 wickets, while Mohammad Amir and Tanzim Hasan Sakib also chipped in with 2 wickets each.
Despite some strong efforts by Fortune Barishal's batter, they fell short by just 2 runs and the Strikers held on for a dramatic victory.
The Strikers have now earned their sixth win in the BPL, while Barishal have experienced their second defeat in the seven matches the two teams have played thus far in this year’s BPL.
BPL 2023 resumes on Monday
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to resume on Monday in Dhaka for a two-day phase before traveling to Sylhet.
The previous phase took place in Chattogram after an initial phase in Dhaka.
On the first match of day one of this Dhaka phase, Chattogram Challengers will take on Rangpur Riders, and Comilla Victorians will lock horns with Dhaka Dominators in the second match.
As of the current points table in the competition, Sylhet Strikers and Fortune Barishal have secured a record of 5 wins and 1 loss each, earning them 10 points on the points table. The Strikers are at number one with a better run-rate than Barishal.
Also Read: BPL 2023: Shakib continues to shine with the bat as Barishal beat Dhaka
They are followed by the Comilla Victorians who have a record of 3 wins and 3 losses, earning them 6 points. The Khulna Tigers and Rangpur Riders both have a record of 2 wins and 3 losses, earning them 4 points on the points table. The Chattogram Challengers and Dhaka Dominators are at the bottom of the table, with 2 and 1 wins, respectively, and 4 and 2 points, respectively.
Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, and Iftikhar Ahmed are currently the top three batters in BPL. Shakib has 275 runs, an average of 91.66 and a strike rate of 196.42, while Nasir amassed 269 runs, an average of 89.66, and a strike rate of 131.21, and Iftikhar scored 256 runs, an average of 128.00, and a strike rate of 181.56.
Wahab Riaz, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, and Tanvir Islam are currently the top performers in the BPL in terms of wickets taken. Wahab has claimed the most wickets so far, with 11 to his name and an average of 11.54. He also had the best performance taking 4 for 14 runs. Mashrafe scalped 9 wickets, with an average of 15.00, and his best performance was 3 for 48. Tanvir bagged 8 wickets, with an average of 11.50, and he recorded his best bowling innings taking 4 for 33.
The tickets for this phase are already on sale. The different types of tickets available include Grand Stand for TK 1,500, VIP Stand for TK 1,000, Club House for TK 500, North/South Stand for TK 300, and Eastern Stand for TK 200.
The tickets can be purchased at two different locations: the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur and a ticket booth adjacent to Gate 1 of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The tickets are available on match days and the day before the match, and the ticket counters are open from 9:30am to 7:30pm.