An Overview Of Dpl Teams (5)
Prime Bank ready for the title push
Title aspirants Prime Bank Cricket Academy look forward to get the taste of their maiden Dhaka Premier League title on the back of several seasoned all-rounders and promising young talents. Prime Bank, who brought Old DOHS two years ago, are yet to win the title in their two appearances so far, despite forming a formidable side. Their best success was limited to becoming runners up in their first season and coach Khaled Mahmud is aiming to go one step further this time.
Mahmud remained as an integral part of Prime’s planning since the beginning and with the available squad he seemed to be ready to face the challenge.
‘We will be playing for the title.’ Mahmud told New Age on Tuesday. ‘Honestly speaking, for the first time we could form a squad so close to our liking. During the first season we played exceptionally well while last year we suffered like all other teams because of the introduction of players by choice policy,’
All-rounder Mahmuduallah was retained as skipper for the second successive season while the club also included experienced Farhad Reza along with Soumyo Sarker and Shubhagata Hom to bolster their all-round capabilities.
Young pace bowling sensation Taskin Ahmed fills the national pool quota with Mahmuduallah, Farhad and left-arm prodigy Taijul Islam, who is now waiting for his Test debut in West Indies, joining them.
‘Our squad is filled with many all-round performers and that will certainly give us the edge,’ said Mahmud.
‘Among others we also have Taibur [Parves] who is a capable batsman and a decent bowler,’ said Mahmud.
Taibur, the left-handed middle-order batsman scored 519 runs and picked seven wickets through his left-arm spin bowling during the previous season for Prime and looks to be a serious national prospect.
He drew the attention of national selectors by claiming the best player’s award in the last edition of National Cricket League.
Under-19 opener Sadman Islam, hard-hitting Soumyo Sarkar and former BKSP boy Saikat Ali will fight for the slot of the two openers while Shubhagata Hom, Mahmuduallah, Farhad Reza, Taibur Parvez will form the middle-order.
The spin department will be operated by left-arm spinner Taijul and Enamul Haque jr with Hom and Mahmuduallah remaining to add some variations through their off-spin bowling.
Taskin will take the new ball along with Tapash Baisya. Farhad and Soumyo will be added options.
The only lacking remains in the wicket-keeping department as a dispute between Prime and Gazi Tanks over Nurul Hasan is yet to be settled by the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis.
Prime were trying to rope Ravi Bopara as their foreign recruit, though a negative response by CCDM over Nurul might change the equation for them.
‘We might have to bring foreign wicket-keeper batsman if we fail to get Nurul,’ said Mahmud.
Squad
Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Farhad Reza, Sadman Islam, Shubhagata Hom, Taibur Rahman, Taijul Islam. Enamul Haque jr, Tapash Baishya, Emon, Forkan.
-With New Age input
