Rangpur Riders achieved a notable victory against Sylhet Strikers, led by the stellar performance of former Pakistan captain Babar Azam in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League 2024.
The excitement was palpable as Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan confidently declared Babar’s inclusion in the playing XI during the toss, affirming,
“Obviously King Babar is in for the match.”
Opting to bat first, Sylhet Strikers faced tough opposition and managed to score only 120 runs, losing eight wickets in the initial innings. Babar showcased his impact with a direct hit that led to Dushan Hemantha’s dismissal in the final over.
On the other hand, Rangpur Riders encountered a challenging situation at the beginning of their chase, losing six wickets with only 39 runs on the board. However, a resilient partnership between Babar and Azmatullah Omarzai, amounting to 89 runs, turned the tables, guiding Rangpur Riders to a thrilling victory. Their effective batting paved the way for a compelling win by four wickets, achieving the target in 18.2 overs.
Babar played a pivotal role, remaining unbeaten with a well-executed 56 runs from 49 deliveries, including six boundaries, at a striking rate of 114.28.
In the broader context of the BPL 2024, several Pakistani players are actively participating across different teams. The list includes Muhammad Haris and Mohammad Hasnain from Chattogram Challengers, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmad, Zaman Khan, Khushdil Shah, and Naseem Shah from Comilla Victorians, Saim Ayub and Usman Qadir from Durdanto Dhaka, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammed Amir, Abbas Afridi, and Shoaib Malik from Fortune Barishal, and Faheem Ashraf from Khulna Tigers. Additionally, Babar Azam and Ihsanullah represent Rangpur Riders, while Sylhet Strikers do not have any Pakistani players.
It’s noteworthy that several Pakistani players were unable to participate in the tournament due to the PCB’s regulation allowing players to feature in only two leagues per year.
