DHAKA, Oct 10, 2020 (BSS) – Cricket frenzy hits the fever pitch
again as competitive cricket returns to the country after a gap of six
months, forced by Covid-19 pandemic, with BCB President’s Cup.
The three-team 50-over tournament kicks-off tomorrow (Sunday) at
the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium with the match between
Mahmudullah XI and Nazmul XI. The match starts at 1.30 PM and one can
enjoy the match through BCB’s facebook page. In fact all of the
matches of the President’s Cup will be seen live via BCB’s facebook
page.
The event is a part of the continuing initiatives of the BCB aimed
at a gradual resumption of normal cricketing activities which have
been disrupted since March this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The tournament is expected to provide leading and upcoming
cricketers the opportunity for some quality competitive cricket in the
current situation. The three teams have been named after respective
captains Mahdullah, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tamim Iqbal khan.
Each team will face each other twice with the top two on points
featuring in the final on October 23. All the games will take place at
the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur and will be
day/night.
A total of 100 the players, support staff, match officials and
relevant personnel including grounds and facilities staff who will
involved with this tournament were tested and returned negative for
coronavirus much to the relief of the BCB.
To ensure health and safety standards for Covid-19, all of them have
already been placed in a bio-secure bubble for the tournament.
The tournament however doesn’t get List A status as BCB won’t
organize this every year.
“Since it is tournament for giving the players an opportunity to
have match practice and we won’t organize this in every year, we
didn’t apply to ICC for its List A status,” BCB CEO Nizam Uddin
Chowdhury said.
Since it is not List A tournament, it means players’ individual
achievement won’t be added to their profile. Still the players have
taken the tournament seriously.
“Still we can achieve many things from the tournament. Suppose for
a new player it’s a platform to show his credential,” Tamim Iqbal, one
of the three captains in the tournament said here today.
There are many youngsters, specially from the World Champion
Under-19 team, will be playing this tournament along with the seniors,
who are their idol.
“The tournament gives us the opportunity to share the dressing room
with the senior. For me it’s a special thing as I got the opportunity
to play with my idol Tamim Iqbal,” Tanzid Hasan Tamim, the member of
World Champion Under-19 team said.
However Tamim Iqbal said the players are serious about the
tournament even though it has no official status.
“As I said earlier, it’s a good opportunity for everyone. For some
players it’s a tournament to remove the rust and prepare them for
International and others competitive cricket. For some players it is
the platform to knock the door of national team. So we’ll be serious
like the way we remain serious when we play for Bangladesh,” he added.
BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said there will be attractive prize
for Champions and Runners-up team as well as for the man-of-match and
best player of the tournament.
Another captain Mahmudullah said they will leave no stone unturned
to clinch the trophy, which they think as prestigious thing.
“We hope to clinch the trophy. We have got a good and balanced
team,” he said, adding that BCB has taken a good initiative to launch
this tournament.
“This sort of competitive cricket is good for us since we were out
of action for long days. It’s a relief to get back to the ground with
this sort of tournament.”
Other captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto said he is excited about the
tournament and aim to win the trophy.
“We have got a player like Mushfiqur Rahim in our team and we know
he can make a big impact. Hopefully we’ll emerge as the champions.”