Time for NCL T20 show

The much-awaited NCL Twenty20 Tournament begins today with Rajshahi Rangers facing Cyclones of Chittagong in the opening match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has planned a gala opening ceremony before the opening match, which will start at 7:45pm. Private television channel ATN Bangla will broadcast the opening ceremony and 12 of the 15 matches of the tournament live from the stadium.
The main attraction of the opening ceremony is expected to be fireworks and laser show, which will be preceded by a march-past of the teams, choreographic display and cultural show. Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith will inaugurate the event as chief guest at 5:30pm.
On the field the spotlight could turn on Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akther, who is expected to play for Cyclones of Chittagong. The officials of Cyclones were hopeful that Shoaib will arrive well before the opening match.
The other overseas cricketer for Cyclones will be Khurram Manzur, who is already in city and have participated in the training with Cyclones cricketers at the SBNS on Saturday.
Rajshahi Rangers have planned to counter Shoaib and Manzur with Australian Aiden Blizzard and Sri Lankan Kaushal Lokuarachchi, who both are expected to arrive in the morning today.
Rangers, who have seen a dramatic change in their ownership and logo a day earlier, were confident of making their mark in the meet, although they will be missing Naeem Islam and Junaed Siddique.
‘I think all six teams are equally strong and have the chance of doing well in the competition,’ said Rangers captain Khaled Mashud at the introductory press briefing of his franchise at a city hotel.
‘This is the first time a “Dhamaka” cricket tournament is going to be held in Bangladesh. There will be many types of pressure on the players. The franchise owners, media and common television viewers will have a close eye on us. So we all have to play serious cricket,’ said Mashud.
Mashud has full confidence in his side and hoped it will get the much-needed balance once the overseas players join the team. Mashud, who led Rajshahi to maximum four titles in the first-class version of the NCL, also hoped that the players will maintain the same spirit in the Twenty20 competition
‘We have got only four days to gel the team as a unit. Still I think we did a good job and the owners of the franchise have also extended all cooperation to us. I hope the players will respect it,’ said Mashud.
Citycell, one of the leading cellular operators, have become the sponsor of the side while AB Bank is the as co-sponsor. The BCB initially named MNH Group as the owner of the franchise, but finally it was bought by Networld Bangladesh Limited.
The new owners, who are the suppliers of Information Communication Technology products to different financial institutions, have changed the logo that the BCB displayed earlier.
‘I think the new logo reflects our aspiration best and this was the only reason for us to change it,’ said Saifur Rahman, the managing director of the Networld Bangladesh Limited.

Courtesy of NewAge