Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League T20 season 2022 saw high-scoring matches for a change. Where the past seasons often received criticism for slow and low decks to play on, particularly at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the tournament this year saw some high-quality batting and plenty of runs scored by the batters and the teams. The roster, till the playoffs, was led by established senior cricketers with Tamim Iqbal leading the table. The left-handed batter was in astonishing form yielding majority of runs for his team and finish with a difference of 127 runs with the second-best local batter this season - Anamul Haque, who came into focus with the willow after years.
Tamim Iqbal
Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal stole the show scoring a staggering 400 plus runs for Minister Group Dhaka. Though his team failed to pull up fine displays on the field, having failed to qualify for the play-offs and finish as No 5 in the six-team tournament, the southpaw made his impact scoring the bulk of runs for his side and reminded why he is considered one of the best batters the country has ever produced. Tamim, amid wide discussions over his decision to not play T20I for the country for six months, scored 407 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 132.57 and an average of 58.14 involving one century - the only one by a Bangladeshi this season - and four half centuries.
Anamul Haque
Wicketkeeper-batsman Anamul had a similar story like Tamim. His side, Sylhet Sunrises, struggled at the bottom of the points table and went back home with just one win in 10 games. Right-handed Anamul however, had the satisfaction of scoring 280 runs in 10 games with a strike rate of 145.78. The effort by Anamul though was to some extent marred with rumors of dubious intentions of his team and teammates making rounds in the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the fraternity. With the Bangladesh team prepping for the T20 World Cup later this year, questions are being asked if Anamul has done enough to earn a spot back in the national dressing room.
Shakib al Hasan
Star all-rounder Shakib has done what he does best - perform all-round heroics for his team Fortune Barishal and as captain lead the side to the grand finale. With the bat, left-handed batter Shakib added power hitting at No 4 as his middle-order teammates struggled in most parts of the tournament. Barishal will take on two-time BPL champions Comilla Victorians in the final in Mirpur today Friday and it would be expected from Shakib that he would propel his side for one last time in the tournament and showcase leadership that has already made the think-tank in BCB think if he could be handed the Bangladesh captaincy in T20Is again.
Mahmudullah
Captain of Dhaka, Mahmudullah was the only batter alongside Tamim to have done some job for the team. The Bangladesh T20I skipper on most occasions went to bat with his side struggling after losing early wickets. The right-handed batter was pivotal with match-saving innings and finished with 255 runs in nine innings with the highest score of 70 not out. There were however, questions raised on the method and thinking that went down in his leadership and there have been decisions which many believe to have amplified the struggle of the team featuring Tamim, Mashrafe bin Mortaza and many other experienced campaigners of the country.
Mushfiqur Rahim
The man with strong emotions Mushfiq led his team Khulna Tigers to the playoffs but failed to make the final after losing the Eliminator against Chattogram Challengers by just seven runs. Mushfiq in the tournament was once again seen losing his temper to his colleague – this time Khaled Ahmed for dropping Victorians opener Liton Das in one of the league matches. But keeping that aside Mushfiq spoke with his bat scoring 251 runs with a strike rate of 129.38 in 11 games with highest score of 62 not out. It is widely established in the cricket fraternity that the national think-tank, particularly head coach Russell Domingo, is not willing to keep the right-handed batter further part of the national T20I fold but finishing at No 5 in the list of most runs scored by locals in BPL T20 2022, a discussion is surely awaiting on the table.
