Dhaka Premier League 2023-24 is set to begin Monday without the members of the Bangladesh national team.
The national team are currently busy hosting Sri Lanka but that is not hampering the excitement to the start of the premier 50-over tournament of the country as two stalwarts – opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan - are set to take the field for their respective sides.
Former Bangladesh One Day International captain Tamim’s Prime Bank Cricket Club will lock horns with Shinepukur CC at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on the opening day of the tournament.
At Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan 3 ground, Shakib’s Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will face Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy.
In the third game of the day, defending champions Abahani Limited will take on Partex Sporting Club at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The Dhanmondi side are studded with current national cricketers and also have fast-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin who is eyeing it as a platform to bring himself back into contention for the national fold.
Recovering from a back injury, Saifuddin joined Fortune Barishal at the business end of the tournament and played a massive role with the ball to help the franchise to their maiden Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 championship.
“We have a balanced side but the first match will be important and we will try to start with a win. I think the pressure is more to become the champions than playing good cricket,” Saifuddin told the media Sunday.
Saifuddin believes the decision by the national selection panel not to consider him for the ongoing home series against Sri Lanka was a fair call as the cricketer himself thinks he needs a little more time before stepping into the national dressing room again.
“Maybe it would have been too early and I think the team wanted what is best for me. It would have been difficult for me to return to the national team after playing high-intensity matches in a short span of time during the BPL as I also played the final [on March 1]. I think I will get the opportunity if I play well in the DPL. So, I don’t want to rush,” said the right-arm seamer.
