Bangladesh's biggest and most popular T20 tournament, Bangladesh Premier League, will get underway in Mirpur Friday after brushing aside concerns raised by rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.
Six teams will battle for ultimate glory in the tournament's eighth installment - a special edition to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Let's take a look at the teams who have contrasting features, but one common aim - to lift Bangladesh's premier T20 trophy.
Sylhet Sunrisers
Sylhet Sunrisers made a balanced team in the players' auction and their squad is a combination of youth and experience capable of challenging for the title.
Sylhet opted for Mosaddek Hossain Saikat as their captain and the familiar face in the domestic arena will face a stiff challenge to find the right combination in order to produce desired results.
Sylhet have veterans like Alok Kapali and Nadif Chowdhury who can add value to any team with their experience.
Seasoned all-rounders like Muktar Ali and Sohag Gazi will be vital components to their playing XI as they have good records in domestic T20s.
Players like middle-order batsman Mohammad Mithun, wicketkeeper-batsman Anamul Haque Bijoy, pacer Al-Amin Hossain and left-arm spinners Nazmul Islam and Sanjamul Islam will be under the scanner as all of them will target a good tournament to get back in the national team selection’s radar.
Sylhet have picked up leg-spinner Jubair Hossain Likhon and it will be interesting to see how the leggie performs if he is included in the playing XI.
In-form Taskin Ahmed will lead the pace attack.
In the overseas players section, Sylhet recruited experienced players Ravi Bopara, Lendl Simmons, Colin Ingram and Kesrick Williams, who are all familiar in franchise cricket.
Sylhet Sunrisers Squad
Local players
Taskin Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Al-Amin Hossain, Nazmul Apu, Anamul Haque, Sohag Gazi, Alok Kapali, Muktar Ali, Siraj Ahmed, Mizanur Rahman, Nadif Chowdhury, Jubair Likhon, Shafiul Hayat, Sanjamul Islam
Foreign players
Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas and Kesrick Williams (West Indies), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Ravi Bopara (England)