As a punter, this is when you’d surely have that question - who will win the Cricket Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25? It is a tough call, as this BPL tournament has seen good competition over the last few seasons. This season won’t feature the most successful team, the Comilla Victorians, and the competition has opened up. All the squads have undergone several changes and have roped in the best domestic players and big overseas names. Let us take you through a brief preview of the seven teams participating in this edition of the Cricket Bangladesh Premier League to give you a fair idea of their strengths -
Bangladesh Premier League Teams
1 Fortune Barisal
They are the defending champions and shall look to add another title to their trophy cabinet this season. The team struggled in the early stage last season, but they were brilliant during the playoffs, winning three games in a row and defeating the Comilla Victorians in the final. With the Victorians out of the tournament, Tamim Iqbal and his team will be one of the favorites. They have a strong group of players and shall expect Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Dawid Malan, Kyle Mayers, and Mohammad Nabi to do well and repeat the success from last season.
Squad - Tamim Iqbal (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Tanveer Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Ripon Mondal, Ebadat Hossain, Naeem Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Ariful Islam, Dawid Malan, Kyle Mayers, Mohammad Nabi, Fahim Ashraf, Ali Mohammad, Khan Jahandad, James Fuller, Pathum Nissanka, Nandre Burger
2 Rangpur Riders
It was a heart-breaking season for the Riders in the last edition. They dominated the league stage, winning 9 out of 12 games, and finished at the top of the points table. However, the team failed to deliver the goods in the playoffs, losing both games by big margins. Nurul Hasan Sohan would like to put last season's upset behind him. They have won the title once in 2017 and shall look to repeat that. They have experienced players like Soumya Sarkar, Curtis Campher, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Alex Hales and shall look to get the best performances out of these players.
Squad - Nurul Hasan Sohan (c), Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahid Rana, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Irfan Sukkur, Tawfique Khan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Azizul Hakim Tamim, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Alex Hales, Saurabh Netravalkar, Curtis Campher, Steven Taylor, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Sediqullah Atal
3 Khulna Tigers
It was an average tournament for the team last season, where they struggled with their consistency and finished 5th on the points table. Khulna's fans have had to bear disappointment over the years and have not had their hands on the title. Mehidy Hasan Miraz brings vast experience to this team and shall look to lead from the front. They have a good mix of young and experienced players, and they expect good performances from Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Hasnain, Oshane Thomas, Mohammad Naeem, and Nasum Ahmed. The bowling attack is a bit weak, but seeing how they perform this season will be interesting.
Squad - Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Afif Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Naeem, Imrul Kayes, Mahidul Islam, Abu Hider, Ziaur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman, Mahmudul Hasan, Oshane Thomas, Mohammad Hasnain, Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Nawaz, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran
4 Durbar Rajshahi
The franchise from Rajshahi returns to the tournament after three seasons. They had won the title in 2019-20 in their earlier avatar as the Rajshahi Royals. Taskin Ahmed, who settles into the big shoes as skipper, would like to repeat the magic they created the last time the team played. They haven't had the best of luck in the auction and don't have the biggest names in the team. The side will expect players like Sabbir Hossain, Jishan Alam, Mohammad Haris, Bilal Khan, Ryan Burl, and Nathan Edward to deliver their best performances as they take on stronger opponents.
Squad – Taskin Ahmed (c), Anamul Haque, Jishan Alam, Yasir Ali, Sabbir Hossain, Sanjamul Islam, SM Mehrab Hossain, Akbar Ali, Hasan Murad, Shafiul Islam, Mohor Sheikh, Saad Nasim, Lahiru Samarakoon, Mohammad Haris, Bilal Khan, Ryan Burl, Nathan Edward, Arafat Minhas
5 Sylhet Strikers
The Strikers have been the bottom rankers of the points table in most seasons. They haven’t won the title and have struggled to reach the playoffs in most seasons. The side finished sixth on the points table last season, managing five wins in 12 games. Rony Talukdar would like to turn the fortunes of his team this season. They must make a good start, which has been a problem for the side. Talukdar must inspire confidence in the team, and he will expect good performances from Rahkeem Cornwall, Reece Topley, Aaron Jones, Paul Stirling, and Arafat Sunny.
Squad - Rony Talukder (c), Zakir Hasan, Jaker Ali, Tanzim Hasan, Mashrafe Bin Murtaza, Al Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Ruel Mia, Ariful Haque, Nihaduzzaman, Nahidul Islam, Paul Stirling, George Munsey, Rahkeem Cornwall, Samiullah Shinwari, Reece Topley, Aaron Jones, Paul Stirling
6 Dhaka Capital
The team has changed its name from Durdanto Dhaka to the Dhaka Capitals. Skipper Litton Das would hope the name change also brings the team a change of fortune. They had a horrible tournament last season, finishing at the bottom of the points table with just two wins to boast about. They are the most successful team this season, with three title wins, the last coming back in 2016. They have roped in some of the best players this year and shall expect good performances from Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan, Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, and Shahadat Hossain. They will be one of the teams to watch out for this season.
Squad – Litton Das (c), Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Habibur Rahman, Mukidul Islam, Abu Jayed, Mushfiq Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Munim Shahriar, Asif Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, Shahnewaz Dahani, Mir Hamza, Stephen Eskinezi, Saim Ayub, Amir Hamza, JP Kotze
7 Chittagong Kings
The Kings have an unwanted record as the only team to have played all tournament editions without a title win. The team has made it to the playoffs four times in the last five editions but has succumbed under pressure. Shuvagata Hom would like his team to grab their first title this season. They have a strong group of players under his command and expect good performances in the game from Abdullah Shafique, Avishka Fernando, Shahadat Hossain, Mohammad Haris, and Phil Salt.
Squad - Shuvagata Hom (c), Abdullah Shafique, Avishka Fernando, Jishan Alam, Josh Brown, Muhammad Waseem, Najibullah Zadran, Shahadat Hossain, Stephen Eskinazi, Tanzid Hasan, Curtis Campher, Romario Shepherd, Shykat Ali, Ziaur Rahman, Imran Uzzaman, Kusal Mendis, Mohammad Haris, Phil Salt, Tom Bruce, Al-Amin Hossain, Bilal Khan, Hunain Shah, Husna Habib, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nihaduzzaman, Salauddin Sakil, Shohidul Islam
the Cricket Bangladesh Premier League will rain sixes and fours this December and January as non-stop action is coming. The highly anticipated Big Bash League and the Super Smash will see stiff competition from the Cricket Bangladesh Premier League. We are in the 11th season of the franchise league and expect good contests on the batting-friendly wickets in Bangladesh. The BPL will also coincide with the SA20 and the International League T20.
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