Mohammad Sharif grabbed the first hat-trick of the season as Gazi Group took the edge in the rain-hit Dhaka Premier League match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in Mirpur on Wednesday. The match went into the reserve day as rain-intervened at least three times at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium making it impossible for the official to finish at least a truncated match.
Gazi Group, chasing a target of 196 runs in 38 overs, reached 83-3 in 16.1 over when the rain stopped the play for one final time.
The match will start from where it ended, which means Gazi will now require 113 runs in 25.5 overs with seven wickets in hand if they are to win the match.
Earlier, they restricted Jamal to 168-9 in 38 overs and were given a revised target according to Duckworth/ Lewis method.
The highlight of the match occurred at the 34th over Jamal innings, bowled by Sharif, who dismissed Mahmudullah, Zabid Hossain and Nazmus Sadat on the third, fourth and fifth ball of the over and saw Muktar Ali was run out in the sixth ball.
Sharif later added the wicket of Shafiul Islam to his tally to finish with 4-43, which immediately prompted him to call for a review of national cricket team’s selection policy.
The 32-year veteran, who played last of his nine one-day internationals and 10 Tests in 2007, pointed that Bangladeshi selectors term a player aged when he reaches 30, something which according to him is unfair.
‘The culture in our country is that a player is called aged when he reaches 30,’ said Sharif, who claimed to have struck his second hat-trick in DPL, with the last one coming in 2005-06 seasons.
‘It’s not the case in other countries. They call a player in 30 experienced. I don’t think I am finished yet. I have still something to give in cricket and have a desire to return to national team. I will continue playing as long as I can keep myself fit.
‘You see Sakib [al Hasan] is now 28. Are you going to drop him soon? I want this culture to be effaced from Bangladesh. If Misbah [ul-Haque] can play upto 40, if Nehra [Asish] why not us?’
Sharif claimed he was about to make a comeback in ‘A’ team two years ago after finishing as third highest wicket taker in National Cricket League. ‘I was about to be picked and then they [selectors] dropped me at the eleventh hour. I asked, why? Is it because of my age? They said, no, there is another reason.’
Sharif’s spell helped Gazi Group restrict to a reasonable score after they reached 125-3 when rain intervened in 29.4 overs. They play remained suspended for nearly three-and-half hours before the umpires decided to hold a 38-over game.
Opener Abdullah Al Mamun made highest 69 runs for Jamal while skipper Mahmudullah contributed 30. Later Arafat Sunny struck twice but Anamul Haque remained firm with unbeaten 36 to keep up Gazi’s hope.
Brief Scores
Skeikh Jamal DC 168-9 in 38 overs (Abdullah 69, Mahmudullah 30; Sharif 4-43) v Gazi Group 83-3 in 16.1 overs (Anamul 36 not out, Kapali 14 not out)
Result: Gazi Group require another 113 runs with 7 wickets and 21.5 overs remaining.
-With New Age input
