All is not lost for spinner Sohag Gazi and Arafat Sunny, the only two pool players not to be picked by any club in the first phase of inter-club players’ transfer for the forthcoming Dhaka Premier League. Sohag and Sunny hit the headlines on Tuesday as no club showed any interest in them despite both being the proven performer in domestic cricket. Sunny was the highest wicket-taker in the previous Dhaka Premier League with 29 wickets with an economy rate of 3.72 runs per over that helped Gazi Tank Cricketers clinch their maiden title.
Sohag missed a considerable number of matches for his involvement with the national team, yet he grabbed 14 wickets in 10 matches and true to his billing as an emerging all rounder he scored 139 runs in his seven innings at 34.75.
Despite the impressive statistics, they became cruel victims of pool, which was divided into two grades – A and B – the latter of which contained six pace bowlers.
A club had to pick at least one player from B grade if it was signing the maximum permitted number of players-three.
It left spinners in hapless situation as clubs mostly filled their quota with batsmen and all-rounder, leaving Sohag and Sunny without any team. Some clubs who otherwise were little interested in pool players wanted to took the advantage and offered the duo a lump sum amount which they did not accept.
Brothers Union still claimed they were ready to fulfil the demand of Sohag, who wanted Tk 15 lakh for the season.
‘Sohag [Gazi] asked for Tk 15 lakh and we agreed. However, our chairman AZM Nasir is in abroad, so we asked him to give us his token and take the payment later. But he did not agree,’ said Brothers official Amin Khan.
Brothers said they are now running after Sunny, who is not included in the Bangladesh squad for the West Indies tour and can participate in the transfer in the second phase which is scheduled to be held from August 28-29.
Sunny confirmed that he had offer from both Brothers and last season’s runners up Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
‘I am waiting for some of the officials from both the clubs to return from abroad. Let me watch what is stored in my fate,’ said Sunny.
Jamal coach Dipu Roy Chowdhury said he will try to convince club president Manzur Kader to sign both Sunny and Sohag.
‘Obviously we have some limitations financially, but club president can still make a decision,’ he added.
Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis member secretary Rakib Haider said Sohag can change his team under special arrangement upon his return from West Indies.
The off-spinner played for Prime Doleshwar last season, but the club already completed their quota with Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque and Shafiul Islam.
‘Now if they give him a clearance, which I expect they will, he [Sohag] can easily change his team,’ said Haider.
-With New Age input
