Gazi Tank Cricketers owner Lutfar Rahman Badal hailed their success in the Dhaka Premier League as a victory of cricket as they overcame many odds throughout the season to win the title. Badal took over the ownership of Gazi Tanks this season and promised a big-budgeted team before the BCB changed the transfer system forcing him to remain satisfied with a mediocre side.
However, with his charismatic organisational skills, he still managed to forge a strong unit that was well capable of clinching the title.
Gazi proved their mettle when they outclassed Prime Doleshwar by 60 runs in their last match on Friday, taking their tally to 24 points, which took them two points clear of their nearest challengers.
‘It was the victory of cricket,’ an ecstatic Badal told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. ‘It proved that despite several attempts you cannot stop a team if they can perform.’
‘I am extremely happy and I thank Allah as He had seen the difficulties that we had to go though at different times. We became champions after overcoming every hurdle.’
Badal alleged that a vested group within the Bangladesh Cricket Board did everything they could to stop Gazi from the title charge.
‘You have seen that in a match [against Abahani] five lbw decisions were given against us. Also they frequently changed the venue of our matches to unsettle the team.
‘In one round of the Super League we were told that we would have to play in Fatullah. Later the venue was shifted elsewhere. We were never certain about anything.
‘They had tried to stop me right at the beginning of the introduction of the new player transfers system. I feel that my answer was delivered on the field,’ he said.
Badal said he has been made a victim of club politics for the last three seasons, but he came out victorious on each occasion.
He spent a huge cash to help Mohammedan Sporting Club win the title in the 2009-10 after eight barren seasons before he was forced to leave the club. Badal joined Victoria Sporting Club in the 2011-12 season and helped the side secure the services of stars like Sakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.
Victoria won the title only to show their back to Badal prompting him to buy Gazi Tanks.
Badal said he gave the team the name of Legends of Rupganj but due to non-co-operation of the BCB the name was never highlighted in the media.
‘It was decided that we would use the Legends of Rupganj name within bracket this season but we did not get enough co-operation from the BCB. I gave them at least three letters but did not receive any reply,’ he said.
-With New Age input
