Favourites Rajshahi will face Chittagong in the second round of the National Cricket League one-day version at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.
Star-studded Dhaka will take on Sylhet at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi while Khulna will meet Barisal at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra in the other two matches of the round.
The match provides Chittagong an opportunity to take an edge over their much fancied opponents in the points table as they both won their opening round matches, albeit in a different manner.
Rajshahi thrashed Khulna by 111 runs while Chittagong outclassed Dhaka by 23 runs in the first round.
‘We are fully aware that Rajshahi are a very balanced side, we are looking forward to facing them. The team morale is on a high after defeating Dhaka,’ Chittagong skipper Nazimuddin told reporters ahead of the match.
‘We will also have an added advantage as we played our first match in Dhaka,’ Nazimuddin pointed out.
The match in Rajshahi between Dhaka and Sylhet is equally important for their captains, Mohammad Ashraful and Alok Kapali, who both are vying for a place in the national team and have shown a glimpse of form in the first round games.
Ashraful made 40 off 49 balls in the first match while Kapali hit 59 runs, but both of them failed to guide their teams to a win.
Khulna, without their star names like Sakib al Hasan and Mashrafee bin Murtaza, will be aiming for their first win against a spirited Barisal team, who rode on an unbeaten 90 of Roqibul Hassan for their opening round victory against Sylhet.
