BPL 2016: Teams, Schedule, Squads and Fixture

The 2016 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is expected to be a spectacle this time around given the number of blemishes that have taken place over the years in terms of the spot-fixing scandals over the years. However, this time around, without the threat of security as well as anything else, it seems as though this year will be a turning point as far as the BPL 2016 is concerned.

As announced previously by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, each of the franchises are allowed to retain two players. Apart from these players, the others will have to be picked from the draft. The drafting process has already been concluded with each team sending ahead their respective squads prior to the start of the tournament.

The teams that will be throwing their hat into the ring will be the Comilla Victorians, Khulna Titans, Rangpur Raiders, Rajshahi Kings, Dhaka Dynamites, Chittagong Vikings, Barishal Bulls. Of these seven teams, the Khulna Titans and the Rajshahi Kings are the new franchises.

BPL 2016 will kick start with the match between Rajshahi Kings and Comilla Victorians at the Dhaka on 4th November 2016. Top four teams from the group stage will qualify for the knockout matches. The four teams will first meet in the semi-finals and an eliminator to determine the finalists.

Also read- 85 players, including 23 foreigners picked in BPL 2016-17 draft

The semi-final will be played on December 8, 2016, while the final of the tournament will be played on December 9, 2016, in Dhaka.

Schedule

Venues

Below are the six venues that will play host to the Bangladesh Premier League 2016:

1. Shere-e-Bangla Stadium National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur – Dhaka

2. Fatullah Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium – Fatullah

3. Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium – Chittagong

4. MA Aziz Stadium – Chittagong

5. Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium – Khulna

6. Sylhet Divisional Stadium – Sylhet

Team Analysis

Comilla Victorians:

The Comilla Victorians are by far the strongest side on paper. With Mashrafe Mortaza leading from the front, it seems quite clear that they are also the favorites. Imrul Kayes, another stalwart in the Bangladesh lineup is also expected to be a part of the side.

Apart from this, the Victorians boast of some terrific overseas talent, something that they pride themselves in. These names include Khalid Latif, Nuwan Kulasekara, Jason Holder, and Sohail Tanvir. Thisara Perera’s ability to clear the fences at will also will add a much value to the side.

Squad: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Icon), Liton Kumar Das, Imrul Kayes, Sohail Tanvir, Ashar Zaidi, Emad Wasim, Nuwan Kulasekara, Khalid Latif, Thisara Perera, Shahzib Hasan, Najmul Islam Shanto, Mohammad Al-Amin, Md Saifuddin, Nahidul Islam, Jason Holder, Nazmul Hasan Shanto, Shahzaib Hasan, Nabil Samad, Mohammad Sharif, Jasim Uddin, Rasel Al Mamun, Shoikat Ali

Khulna Titans:

The Khulna Titans, similar to the Victorians, are one of the contenders for the title. Led by Mahmudullah Riyad, who also happens to be the icon player, the seem a formidable side on paper. He will be joined by Bangladesh pacer Shafiul Islam and spinner Shuvagata Hom as they aim to clinch the title.

Apart from being a new franchise, they boast of some incredible overseas talent. Australia’s domestic veteran Ben Laughlin, England’s LV County Championship Riki Wessels, Lendl Simmons and Andre Fletcher are a few who are a prominent part of this crusade.

Squad: Mahmudullah Riyad (Icon), Shafiul Islam, Mosharrof Rubel, Nicholas Pooran (WI U-19), Kevon Cooper (WI), Riki Wessels (ENG), Mohammad Asgar (PAK A team), Lendl Simmons (WI),Benny Howell (ENG), Ben Laughlin (AUS), Ariful Haque (Local), Shuvagata Hom, Md Abdul Majid (BCB XI), Saidur Rahman (Local), Alok Kapali, Andre Fletcher (WI), Junaid Khan (PAK), Md Hasanuzzaman (Local), Ariful Haque (Local), Nur Hossain Saddam (Local), Naeem Islam jr, Abdul Halim (Local)

Rangpur Raiders:

Unlike most other teams in the championship, the Rangpur Raiders boast of the cream of the local talent. Apart from the fact that they do indeed invest their draft picks in domestic talent, it seems clear that they have a decent balance of young and experienced players.

Leading the Raiders will be youngster Soumya Sarkar who has impressed with some brilliance in his international career thus far. Arafat Sunny and Mohammad Mithun are the others form the Bangladesh unit. Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan outcast, Sharjeel Khan, and Babar Azam also make their way into the side.

Squad: Soumya Sarkar (Icon), Arafat Sunny, Mohammad Mithun, Sharjeel Khan (PAK),Shahid Afridi (PAK), Mohammad Shahzad (AFG), Babar Azam (PAK), Dasun Shanaka (SRI), Richard Gleeson (ENG), Gidron Pope (WI), Nasir Jamshed (PAK), Rubel Hossain, Sachithra Senanayake (SRI), Sohag Gazi, Naeem Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Pinak Ghosh (BAN U-19), Mehrab Hossain Jossy (Local), Mukhtar Ali, Shahbaz Chouhan (Local), Gihan Rupasinghe (SRI)

Rajshahi Kings:

The Rajshahi Kings are one of the new and exciting franchises in the league. Moreover, they have one of the most exciting players in the league as well with Sabbir Rahman chosen as the icon player. Mehedi Hasan, the 19-year old wonder kid who impressed with some impeccable bowling against England is also a part of the side.

Darren Sammy, the former West Indies skipper is one of the few important members of this side. Upul Tharanga, Mohammad Sami, and Milinda Siriwardana are the others who are a part of this side in an overseas playing capacity.

Squad: Sabbir Rahman (Icon), Mehedi Hasan Miraj (U-19 Captain), Nurul Hasan Sohan, Darren Summy (WI), Milinda Siriwardana (SRI), Mohammad Sami (PAK), Upul Tharanga (SRI), Farhad Reza, Ibadat Hossain, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hasan opu (Local), Samit Patel (ENG), Raqibul Hasan, Abul Hasan, Salman Hossain (Local), Roni Talukdar

Chittagong Vikings:

While many of the BPL teams contain exciting talents, the Chittagong Vikings are one of the few who boast of T20 specialists, many of whom are world renowned for their exploits in the shortest format. Tamim Iqbal is chosen as the icon player for the Vikings.

They, however, have an incredibly strong side including the likes of Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith, Mohammad Nabi, and Grant Elliot. Tymal Mills, the newly-found England pacer who bowls at the speed of light is also a welcome addition to the side.

Squad: Tamim Iqbal (Icon), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Taskin Ahmed, Chris Gayle (WI),Shoaib Malik (PAK), Dwayne Smith (WI), Chaturanga de Silva (SRI), Grant Elliot (NZ), Mohammad Nabi (AFG), Imran Khan Jr (PAK), Subashis Roy (A team), Yasir Ali Chowdhury (BAN U-19), Abdur Razzak, Jahirul Islam, Jeavan Mendis (SRI), Nazmul Hossain Milon (Local), Tymal Mills, Md Shohidul Islam (Local), Zakir Hasan (BAN U-19), Jubair Hossain (A team)

Barishal Bulls:

The Barishal Bulls are led by Mushfiqur Rahim, the current Bangladesh skipper. Carlos Brathwaite, the West Indies skipper is also a part of this side, thus making this a side that boasts of two current skippers.

Shahriar Nafees, the former Bangladesh opener is another who has impressed with time in the domestic circuit. Mohammad Nawaz, the current Bangladesh player is also a part of the side.

Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (Icon), Taijul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Dilshan Munabera (SRI), Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Mohammad Nawaz (PAK A team), Monir Hossain Khan (Local), Shamsur Rahman, Kamrul Islam Rabbi (A team), Abu Haider Rony, Nadeef Chowdhury, Josh Cobb, Mehedi Hasan, Shahriar Nafees

Dhaka Dynamites:

The Dhaka Dynamites have done quite well when it comes to balancing players in the side. Kumar Sangakkara, one of the important players in the side is also joined by Mahela Jayawardene. Apart from the two stalwarts from the side, they also boast of some of the best all-rounders in the game.

Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo are part of the side, who are clearly the best players in the game at the moment. Ravi Bopara, the player who is currently being shunned away by the ECB at the moment is a part of the side. Wayne Parnell is also a part of the side.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Icon), Nasir Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Kumar Sangakkara,Mahela Jayawardene, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Rovi Bopara, Evin Lewis, Seekkuge Prasanna (SRI), Sanjamul Islam (BCB XI), Wayne Parnell (RSA), Alauddin Babu (BAN A team), Mehedi Maruf (BAN U-19), Suhrawadi Shuvo, Mohammad Sharif, Tanveer Haider Khan (BCB XI), Imran Shukkur (Local), Usama Mir (PAK)