Premier League first leg - Review

[Isam]

Hello boys and girls!
I hope everyone's doing well. Since the Dhaka Premier League's first round matches are over, I thought I could share a few thoughts with you, team-by-team (according to position in the points table). I will only focus on the local players.

Old DOHS: A plan worked and it put them right on top of everyone. Nine wins out of ten games and most of them achieved through their total reliance on spin bowling and moderate scores. Some of the bigger names have risen to the occasion at times but one guy who really impressed was Nurul Hasan, the quiet wicketkeeper. He made important runs as well; one for the future.

Victoria: It promised to be a two-man show but the said individuals haven't really set the league alight. Jahurul Islam did tremendously and can await for a national call-up. Apart from the Abahani win though, none of their performances were too convincing against the bigger teams.

Gazi Tank: A good, workable team that has done well so far. Nasir was head and shoulders above the rest while the Pakistani pair Sami and Abbas took most of the wickets. Not championship material, and even they know it.

Abahani: Despite being the most well-followed team in the Premier League these days, they have flattered to deceive. It so happens that the team in power (ie political importance) usually struggle when they're source of power is in government. Maybe it is complacency that rules and regulations can be tweaked according to their needs so the player take it as a cakewalk. This is a theory which i have seen at work for the last 15 years. Nonetheless, Riyad has been quite good as usual while Anamul and Farhad Hossain have done well at times.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club: It is a team that is eccentric in nature, especially because the club boss calls all the shots. To score three centuries in between all the changes and troubles takes a lot of doing and a whole lotta temperament. So, well done Mushy.

Mohammedan: Two words. Imrul Kayes. Without this left-hander, this team would have struggled to stay afloat in the Premier League. He has scored runs in every situation and will suit him well for a comeback for the Tigers.

Prime Doleshwar: Like most of the other also-rans, relied heavily on the foreign imports. Nafees and Nadif batted well in patches.

CCS: One total unknown did quite well, Robiul Islam Robi while opening the inninsg and bowling tidy off-breaks. Rokibul too did quite well but not enough to warrant a national call-up (though some say that anyone with the Kalabagan nexus can get a place in the national team!)

Brothers Union: A team with a lot of promise but one that will battle for survival in the one-off play-off against Biman. Among the batsmen only Nazimuddin did considerably well, esp in the big games, while with the ball, Saker Ahmed was only just okay.

Biman: The one-time giants have now truly crashed to the ground. They won't be participating next season and even before Daily Star broke the news, it was evident in their body language. The best thing they've done is let Mashrafe play a few games and improve his match fitness.

Surjo Tarun: They were unceremoniously shunted down for not turning up in the Kalabagan game at BKSP as you may all know. Behind the scenes though, they were amateur in every way.