ZCZC
BSP-14
CRICKET-RR-KT-FINAL-TOSS
Khulna bowls in BBPL final against Rajshahi
DHAKA, Jan 17, 2020 (BSS) – Khulna Tigers captain Mushfiqur Rahim asked Rajshahi Royals to bat first after winning the toss in the final of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here today.
Both of the sides are hoping to lift their maiden BPL trophy, which eluded them in the previous six seasons.
Rajshahi though played the final in the name of Rajshahi Kings in 2016-2017 seasons, it was entirely new experience for Khulna.
It’s also the first time that Mushfiqur Rahim, the longest serving captain of the Bangladesh national team, is playing his first BPL final.
Not only that he is playing his first final but also he leads the side throughout the whole tournament for the first time in BPL history. In previous six editions, somehow for some reasons he gave up the captaincy halfway through the tournament.
Rajshahi Royals and Khulna Tigers were the most consistent teams in the group phase as both of them won eight matches out of 12. Khulna however edged Rajshahi by net-run-rate to top the table and also got the better of Rajshahi by 27 runs in the first Qualifier to seal the final straightway.
Rajshahi then rode on captain Andre Russell’s sensational 22 ball-54 runs not out to snatch a two-wicket victory against Chattogram Challengers from the jaws of the defeat in the second Qualifier.
Team changes- Rajshahi fields an unchanged side that beat Chattogram Challengers in the second Qualifier by two wickets.
Khulna however brings up one change with Tanvir Islam replacing leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob.
Rajshahi Royals playing XI Andre Russell (Captain ), Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Alok Kapali, Farhad Reza, Mohammad Irfan, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed Rahi, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammed Nawaz, Irfan Sukkur.
Khulna Tigers playing XI Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain), Rilee Rossouw, Shamsur Rahman, Robbie Frylinck, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shafiul Islam, Mohammed Amir Amir, Najibullah Zadran, Nazmul Hossain shanto, Shahidul Islam, Tanvir Islam.
BSS/SMP/SMM/1855 hrs