BPL Chattogram phase starts Tuesday

Chattogram ready to take home ground advantage

Chattogram Challengers is keen to keep their form of run to seal a play-off berth by winning all of their matches in the Chattogram phase of the Bangbandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL).

Chattogram will begin their campaign at the home ground by taking on the Sylhet Thunder tomorrow at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium which starts at 6.30 pm.

Chattogram who have already won two matches out of three, would get four matches at their home ground. If they can win all of the matches, the number of victories would be six which almost could seal their play-off berth.

Considering the advantage of home ground, their Head Coach Paul Nixon believes that it is a golden chance of keeping them ahead of the others.

"We need victories here. It's 49th victory celebration. We are inspired by it. There will be some challenges at home, although already we have earned some victories," Nixon said in Chattogram today.

Nixon said they need to begin this phase of BBPL by winning the first game here as they take on Sylhet Thunder, a team which registered three losses in a row.

"This is a crucial part of BBPL as we mentioned earlier. Four home games, you know, we have to win every game. You know it's crucial. We have to win six games. I think we can go close to qualifying unless we have to go an odd path. So, it's crucial. Wicket looks good and the temperature is beautiful. So, we are looking forward to a good preparation today. We will work hard today and come back tomorrow and execute the plan as best as we can." he revealed.

Nixon believes the wicket here would be good to bat on and hence the batsmen would have to take the responsibility to amass a good score on the board.

"Twenty20 is a small margin game. It's about a getting over the line. Sometimes you go over the line. Sometimes you crawl over the line. You know we worked well for the overall improvement. We work over fielding and the areas where we should improve. Our batsmen need to be nice to score 165 or 170 at the end. I think the pitch is here to be a bit more conducive for good batting than Dhaka. Our bowlers, you know, would like to take more wickets," he remarked.

The bowlers also could thrive here if they can be smart in executing their plan, Nixon, the English-born coach said.

"Definitely, I think it is not going to be a good wicket for the bowlers. They need bowl smartly to be in the race. I think it will be high scoring matches here. They have to be smart in executing their plans," he added.

Rajshahi eying to replicate Dhaka form

Rajshahi Royals will leave no stone unturned to replicate their Dhaka form in the Chattogram phase of Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), said team's opener Liton Das.

Rajshahi will take on Khulna Tigers to kick-start their Chattogram phase tomorrow at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram at 1.30 pm.

"Dhaka part of BBPL is now past for us as we focus on the Chattogram phase of the BBPL. We have to start afresh and replicate the performance that we showed in Dhaka," Liton Das said in Chattogram after the team's practice session.

"Khulna Tigers is a very strong team. They have the likes of Mushfiqur Rahim, Rilee Rossouw, Robbie Frylinck and other big hitters. I think it will be a competitive match."

Rajshahi won their first two matches with ease and largely due to the magnificent performance for their top order. Liton is also in good form and played his part with an unbeaten 44 in the last match.

"Our top order has been in good form. We need to keep this form up. Personally, I want to play well. But the middle order and lower order also have to prepare well, as the top order won't play well every day," he added.

Liton heaped praise on Mirpur wicket and said that the local players have the ability to play well if the wicket is good.

"Wicket was very good. Actually, I was surprised to see such wicket in Mirpur. The local players also played well in this tournament. I think the Chattogram wicket will be better than Mirpur and you people will see many good innings from the local players," he added.

On a more personal note, Liton's form in BPL was not good in the past editions. In this edition, he, however, looks to be in good touch.

Liton said he is looking forward to play well regardless of what happened in the past.

"I didn't want to remember what happened in the past. To me, it is all about how to perform. But if you do not perform well the technique won't give you an advantage. So, I am looking forward to perform well," added Liton.