Friendship will be set aside when Sakib al Hasan’s Prime Bank CC take on Tamim Iqbal’s UCB-BCB XI in the final of the Amber Victory Day Twenty20 Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today. All-rounder Sakib and opener Tamim have been very close to each other since their early days in age-level cricket and their friendship has grown stronger as time has passed.They are often called the best of mates in the Tigers dressing room because they participate in different activities together when they are in the country or touring with the national team.
But this friendship will not have any bearing on their approaches when they lead their respective sides in the Victory Day Cup final at 2:30pm.
‘Friendship will remain in its own place, but it is different when we play against each other,’ Sakib told reporters on Monday.
‘I am looking forward to the final, and both of us will be eager to take our respective teams forward,’ said Sakib.
‘It is not the case that we are playing for the first time, as we have already met each other twice during the tournament,’ he added.
Tamim echoed the world renowned all-rounder’s sentiment and added that he always gets extra motivation when playing against Sakib.
‘Competiting against [Sakib] always gives me a special feeling,’ said Tamim.
Sakib said that his team possessed a better bowling attack than their opponents and he believes that will be crucial in the final.
‘I think our bowling has more variety and that is our strength,’ said Sakib.
‘It gives us an edge over them, as we can try different options.’
Sakib said that he was surprised with his own performance, considering it came after an almost two-month-long layoff. He had hardly played any cricket after being ruled out during the home series against New Zealand.
Sakib contracted dengue fever, which prevented him from participating in the ODI series, and later took some time off for his wedding.
‘I am quite surprised with my own performance,’ said Sakib.
‘I am happy with whatever I have achieved so far in this tournament,’ he added, Sakib has scored 124 runs, including a fifty, and has taken 10 wickets.
UCB skipper Tamim is banking on the team putting together the kind of combined effort that they have displayed throughout the tournament.
‘We were the underdogs in the beginning, but we had developed as a unit as the games have progressed,’ said Tamim.
‘Actually, you cannot keep any team ahead in this format. Statistically we are on par as both the teams defeated each other during the league phase,’ he added.
Tamim, himself back after a layoff due to an abdominal injury sustained during the New Zealand series, also appeared confident with his own form.
‘In the beginning I was looking to get my rhythm and gain confidence as I was coming after an injury layoff,’ said Tamim, who scored a massive 130 runs against Mohammedan Sporting Club to take his team to the final.
‘I feel like I have achieved both so far, though initially I was taking time in the middle to get myself accustomed.’
The champions will receive a cash prize of Tk 20 lakh, while the runners-up will get Tk 10 lakh.
The prize money is in addition to the tournament fees allocated to each player. Three players in each team will receive Tk 2.5 lakh as Grade A players, while the remaining squad members will receive Tk 1.5 lakh as Grade B players.
The BCB have also allocated Tk 1 lakh for the player of the tournament.
-With New Age input
