An Overview Of DPL Teams (6)
Kalabagan CA – the ‘dark horse’
If any team can be called a dark horse in the forthcoming Dhaka Premier League, it must be Kalabagan Cricket Academy. Under the guidance of former national captain Khaled Mashud, KCA, a club recently taken over by a new management, have the chance to go all the way, especially with the kind of players they have at their disposal. ‘We have the perfect blend of young and experienced cricketers,’ said Mashud, who has a knack for success in domestic competitions. But, I am not going to set any specific goal for the team.
‘I became involved with the team just a few days before the transfer window opened. So you understand that it was too late to forge a strong team. Still, I am happy with the squad that was given to me.’
‘We have young players like Anamul Haque and Sabbir Rahman, who are also among the pool players. They are both immensely talented and have a bright future ahead of them.’
They also have a few promising under-19 players like — [Nazmul Hossain] Shanto, [Mehedi Hasan] Miraz as well as Chittagong-based wicketkeeper batsman, Irfan Shukur, who can become one of the finds of the league.
‘I am very hopeful for them. Then, if I talk about the experience, we are also not short on it. Our captain Sharif is a very experienced player.
‘Also, we have Nafees Iqbal, Syed Rasel and Abul Hasan. If they can pass their experience to the young guns, we can surprise any team,’ said Mashud.
Nafees or Imtiaz will open the innings with Anamul, while Nazmul is tipped to bat at one-down. Any one of the trio can also go to middle-order, if Irfan cannot take the burden.
What the club is looking for, is a good foreign player at the number four position, who will be followed by Sabbir, Miraz and Irfan.
Nabil Samad and Bishwanath Halder will form the spin attack while Sharif, Syed Rasel and Abul Hasan – who took the world by storm scoring a century on his Test debut, batting at number 10 – will handle the new ball.
KCA played in the super league last season with a far less impressive squad, so, expectations will be naturally high this time.
But Masud said he does not want to put the players under any kind of pressure.
‘I was not with the team last year. So, I don’t know the history. All I can say is that this is a very good team. No team will be able to take us lightly,’ he said.
The team’s apparent weakness is its spin attack, which, Masud thinks can easily be overcome with the inclusion of a foreign player.
Squad
Anamul Haque, Nafees Iqbal, Imtiaz Hossain, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Irfan Shukur, Mohammad Sharif, Mahmudul Hasan, Abul Hasan, Nabil Samad, Mehrab Hossain Joshi, Bishwanath Halder, Syed Rasel.
-With New Age input
