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Abahani eyes to overcome Prime Doleshwar threat
DHAKA, April 3, 2019 (BSS)-Defending champions Abahani Limited aims to bolster their position at the point table as they take on Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in a crucial Dhaka Premier League (DPL) game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium tomorrow.
Abahani and Legends of Rupganj are currently on top of the point table with 14 points from eight games but the former stays in the top of the table by virtue of better-run-rate. Prime Bank and Doleshwar with 12 points are in third and fourth spot respectively, also by virtue of better-run-rate.
Therefore the match turned out to be important for both teams not only to bolster their position in the point table but also gain some advantage in the super league phase since the points of the group phase will be counted in the super league.
Abahani skipper Mossadek Hossain firmly believed that his side is capable to overcome the threat of Doleshwar. According to the skipper if they can play 80 percent of their potential they can beat Dholeshwar easily.
”Every match in the DPL is important and there is nothing new to talk about it. We should follow the process that we are doing so far,” Mosaddek said here today.
The original venue for the match was Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium but considering the significance, the CCDM, altered the venue. Khelaghar and Uttara Sporting Club who are scheduled to play here, now will play their game at Fatullah.
The big advantage of Doleshwar was their consistent performer at the top order like Saif Hasan and Farhad Reza, Saad Nasim and co who formed a devastating lower order combination to ensure that a good start from the top order would be capitalized nicely.
In this aspect Abahani is little bit weak as they lacked firepower lower down the order.
Mosaddek differed with the fact, stating, ”There is no doubt that they are playing good brand of cricket but everyone is seeing how we are performing so there is no point thinking about them.”
”If we can perform 80 percent of our potential we feel we can win the match easily,” he said.
Pace bowler Rubel Hossain and Mohammad Mithun are suffering from injury and according to the Abanahi skipper they are not forcing them as they are well aware of the World Cup.
”They [injured players] are taking time and we are not pressurizing them as we are well aware that there is a big mission of Bangladesh,” said Mossadek.
” So it is better if they are rested for one match and comes back fully fit in the next game,” he said adding that instead of thinking of championship they should play one game at a time.
Prime Doleshwar however believe they would go one step ahead to clinch their maiden title should they beat Abahani in this match. Dholeshwar have always turned out to be a major contender for the title since their inception in the league few years back but somehow could not manage it.
“We usually do well against Abahani and this match is very important for us. If we can win this game, we’ll edge closer to the championship,” Prime Doleshwar pacer Abu Jayed Rahi said.
”I will try to perform a bit better against Abahani because that will help to have more focus on me. It is the same with the other members of the team and they are keenly waiting for the contest,” he said.
Rahi added that they are taking confidence from the performance of opener Saif Hasan and all-rounder Farhad Reza as both of them are doing extremely well in the tournament.
In the day’s other match, Sheikh Jamal Dhanonmodi Club will take on Legends of Rupganj at BSKP-4 ground.
BSS/SMP/SMM/17:55 hrs