Cricket is set to return to its home at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today after a seven-month gap with a Dhaka Premier League match between Victoria Sporting Club and Brothers Union.
The premier venue of the country did not host any match since the Bangladesh Cricket League final in February as it had undergone some renovation works ahead of the ICC World Twenty20.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board improved the drainage system of the ground and also planted some new grass which gave the playing surface a fresh look at the stadium.
Cricketers felt relieved having been able to return to the venue after playing in sweltering heat at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra and the under-prepared pitches at Fatullah and BKSP produced some mismatches.
‘Mirpur is our familiar ground. Its outfield and pitch are better than any other ground. Naturally we are feeling a bit better,’ Brothers opener Nafees Iqbal told reporters.
Former Test opener Nafees scored a brilliant century in the opening match while his younger brother Tamim repeated the feat in the next match. Bothers also roped in Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews and British passport-holder Pakistani cricketer Azhar Mahmood to bolster their squad.
Paceman Nazmul Hossain, who was dropped by the Bangladesh Cricket Board from the players’ transfer for injury, also joined Brothers as a free player giving their bowling attack some boost.
Both Brothers and Victoria won one match each, though the latter got an additional point from their abandoned opening match against Kalabagan Cricket Academy.
‘We won a match and they also got just one win. So it should be an interesting contest,’ Brothers spinner Sohrawardi Shuvo said.
Gazi Tank will face Kalabagan KC at Fatullah while Prime Bank will play against CCS in the two other matches of the round.
TODAY’S MATCHES
Victoria SC v
Brothers Union Club
at SBNS
***
Gazi Tank Cricketers v Kalabagan KC,
at Fatullah stadium
***
Prime Bank CC v
Cricket Coaching School
at BKSP-3
-With New Age input
