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CRICKET-RAJSHAHI-GAYLE-THREAT
Rajshahi unfazed by Gayle threat in high-voltage BBPL clash
DHAKA, Jan 6, 2020 (BSS) – Rajshahi Royals appeared not to be too fazed by the arrival of Chris Gayle as he would be featured in Chattogram Challengers team, who they will take on tomorrow (Tuesday) in a high-voltage game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Both teams have equal 14 points in 10 games so far but Rajshahi edged Chattogram by net-run-rate to claim the top position. Tomorrow’s battle however will decided as to who would take the pole position solely.
And in a bid to reclaim the top spot, Chattogram is highly likely to unleash Gayle, who just arrived in Dhaka today.
But Gayle’s inclusion does not imply that he will score heavily in each game, said Rajshahi left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
”The situation is not like that Gayle will come and score hundred in every match. He can get out on zero,” Taijul said here today.
“He is a great player, he should be respected. If he can settle down, the game can change. If he gets out early, the game will be different.”
In a double-league tournament, Rajshahi’s next two matches are against Chattogram and Taijul said that they are looking forward to win both their games to end the group phase on the top.
”T20 is a game of shapes. When a team play well they keep performing. T20 is just like that,” Taijul informed.
”Our time is going well. We have two matches left, if we can win both the matches, we will be on top. Then maybe we will have more possibility as we are leading,” he said,
”We have two matches against Chattogram and the top four team will be very good. There will be no underperformed team. Among them, who played well in group stage, no certainty that they will play well again. Who will play well on their given day, they will win,” he said.
Taijul however lamented for the ordinary performance including himself in the ongoing BBPL.
It looked like the BBPL turned out to be a heaven for the pace bowlers as they are dominating the show while the spinner is playing second fiddle to them.
Only Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman is currently in the top 10 wicket takers list and it only indicates the performance of the slow bowlers in the tournament.
”This is a failure of our spinners. We played more or less in such wickets before,” he remarked.
”But still I would say this is a failure. Definitely, if the spinners perform well even in the end, that will be good for everyone.”
Taijul added that when a spinner is hit there is a possibility that the spinners are not brought back but the seasoned left-arm spinner is not ready to put that as an excuse for failing to perform.
”The team also has some requirements. If a bowler concedes 10-15 runs in first over, you will think twice to bring him back. The team will suffer and that’s why they are not brought back,” said Taijul adding that they need to perform in this condition so that they can perform well overseas.
”The wicket is very good. But when you play in overseas, you will have to play in more flat wickets. So the pressure will always be there. So not playing well is a failure of the spinners,” he concluded.
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