2015 Bangladesh Premier League preview: 6 players to watch

Summary

The BPL returns after an absence in 2014 following controversies that included match fixing and payment issues. Bangladeshi cricket has grown since the last tournament in 2013, particularly on the international scene. This is in no small part down to the emergence of several young talents, some of whom are featured below, along with old heads such as Shakib Al-Hasan (Rangpur), Mushfuqur Rahim (Sylhet), Mahmudullah (Barisal), Mashrafe Mortaza (Comilla) and Tamim Iqbal (Chittagong).The growth of t20 cricket in general has seen the overseas contingent strengthen within the BPL, as well as the usual faces that will look to light up the tournament. Chris Gayle (Barisal), Sunil Narine (Comilla) and Kumar Sangakkara (Dhaka) are among the star names that will feature during the BPL this year. Below is a selection of players who are looking to make an impression in the tournament, with many making their respective debuts in this particular competition.

1) Mustafizur Rahman (Dhaka Dynamites)

Mustafizur reacts after taking a wicket in the first
t20 international against Zimbabwe
(PHOTO: AFP PHOTO/Munir uz Zaman) 

Mustafizur is one of the hottest prospects in Bangladeshi cricket right now with his fantastic international record speaking for itself. The 20-year-old has taken 26 wickets in his first nine ODIs at an average of just 12.34. He burst onto the scene with a maiden five-wicket haul on his debut against India and became just the second bowler in international history to take five-wicket hauls in his opening two games, after Zimbabwean Brian Vitori. Rahman's variations make him a troublesome bowler in the shorter format of the game and big things will be expected of the youngster in this year's edition of the BPL.

2) Mohammad Amir (Chittagong Vikings)

Amir pictured in 2011 at his sentencing,
a dark time for him and world
cricket (PHOTO: Dan Kitwood)

Amir was billed as one of the best young bowling talents in the world when he was 18, having already taken 99 international wickets in 47 games across the three formats. However, the well-documented demise of Amir began when he was found guilty of spot-fixing in a Test match against England back in 2010 and was subsequently banned from all cricket for five years, before returning to action in the last two months with the Rawalpindi Rams and Sui Southern Gas Corporation. Amir has said that the BPL will be a chance for him to earn a recall to the Pakistan national team. His chances may be hindered, though, with Pakistan international Mohammad Hafeez recently coming out to say that he turned down a BPL contract because of Amir playing in the same team. One thing is for sure, it will be extremely interesting to see how Amir fares during the BPL, if and when he plays.

3) Soumya Sarkar (Rangpur Riders)

Soumya celebrates his maiden ODI century
against Pakistan back in April 2015
(PHOTO: AFP PHOTO/Munir uz Zaman)

The classy 22-year-old left-hander doesn't currently boast the best t20 record, only averaging 16.64 and striking at just 115, but his ODI record for Bangladesh is not to be sniffed at. The young all-rounder averages just under 50 and has scored four half-centuries to go with his solitary hundred in 16 matches. Sarkar will be tasked with compiling runs for his Riders team, along with his captain and fellow left-hander Shakib Al-Hasan and West Indian Lendl Simmons. The BPL will provide a great window of opportunity for Soumya to showcase the kind of talent that he has been producing in the One Day arena for Bangladesh over the 12 months. 

4) Liton Das (Comilla Victorians)

Das cutting during the first t20 international
against Zimbabwe nine days before the BPL
kick off (PHOTO: AFP PHOTO/Munir uz Zaman)

Das is yet another talented young Bangladeshi to have been introduced to the international scene in the last year. Although his numbers haven't been prolific for his country, there have been examples of his considerable talent being showcased. The BPL is another chance for the 21-year-old to continue his development and prove his worth. He has been touted as being the heir to Mushfiqur Rahim's wicketkeeping throne, with the 28-year-old having been relatively unchallenged during his 10-year stint as a Bangladesh international.

5) Rubel Hossain (Sylhet Super Stars)

Like Mustafizur, Rubel Hossain started his ODI career as a nineteen-year-old and enjoyed similar success on debut, taking 4-33 against Sri Lanka in 2009. Rubel took the same figures in a recent one day game against India A, counting Manish Pandey among his victims. Home to a sharp, slingy action, Hossain will look to produce the kind of performance that saw him take a hat-trick against New Zealand in 2013, claiming the wickets of Corey Anderson, Brendon McCullum and Jimmy Neesham.

 

6) Sabbir Rahman (Barisal Bulls)

Quinton de Kock watches on as Sabbir reverse sweeps
during the first t20 international against South Africa
back in July (PHOTO: AFP PHOTO/Munir uz Zaman)

Sabbir completes the set of featured young talents from Bangladesh, with the just-turned 24-year-old boasting a more than respectable t20 record. In 54 games, Rahman averages a shade over 30 whilst striking at just under 125. The right-hander comes into the BPL on the back of a fairly mediocre mini t20 series against Zimbabwe, in which he scored 18 and 17 respectively in his two innings. Rahman will be ably supported in terms of run-scoring, with his captain Mahmudullah having been in fine form in the last 18 months along with Chris Gayle, who needs no introduction.