Mashrafee expected to play for Abahani
The title of Dhaka Premier League will be decided today when the last round of Super League will be held with arch-rivals Abahani and Mohammedan Sporting Club facing off at the Fatullah stadium.
Abahani will take their fourth title in five seasons if they can beat Mohammedan as they are currently leading the table with 24 points from 14 matches.
Gazi Tank Cricketers, who will face Bangladesh Biman in their final match, remained hot on their heels with 22 points. A win against the national flag carriers can make them the new champions providing Abahani lose their game.
Though Gazi Tanks trail Abahani by two points they have the advantage on head-to-head count as they have defeated the Dhanmondi outfit in the Super League. If both Abahani and Gazi end up on equal points in that case Gazi will be crowned champions, said the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
If Abahani win they will be champions irrespective of the outcome of the Gazi Tanks-Biman game. Abahani can be champions even with a defeat if Biman make a prefect landing against Gazi Tanks.
The best hope for already dethroned champions Mohammedan, who trail Abahani by three points, is the runners-up position and even for that to happen they will need some favour from Biman.
Title aside, the highlight of the Super League final round could be the return of paceman Mashrafee bin Murtaza in competitive cricket which is what he has been trying hard in a bid to prove his fitness to get his World Cup chance, if it comes at all.
Abahani captain Mashrafee injured his knee in what was only their second game of the league which subsequently ruled him out of the forthcoming World Cup. Mashrafee returned to practice last month but the selectors were sceptical about his chances of being match-fit before the World Cup.
He has an outside chance to play in the World Cup if he can prove his fitness and if Bangladesh need a replacement at any stage.
