The race for the playoffs of the 11th edition of Bangladesh Premier League has become exciting amid all the controversies, as the tournament is set to return to Dhaka for its final phase, starting on Sunday.
Rangpur Riders, who had eight wins in a row before finally losing to Durbar Rajshahi on Thursday, have already qualified for the playoffs and have been the only team to do so.听
However, captain Nurul Hasan has stated that the 24-run defeat to Rajshahi was a wake-up call for his players. Their Pakistani pacer Akif Javed, though, has had a wonderful time in Chattogram, taking seven wickets in two matches.听
Tamim Iqbal-led Fortune Barishal, who are also the defending champion, are currently at second by winning all three matches in Chattogram, credits to their bowlers for collective performances.
With Rangpur already qualified and Barishal in a comfortable position, the race will be mainly for the next two places in the playoffs.听
The competition will mainly be among the four teams鈥擟hittagong Kings, Khulna Tigers, Durbar Rajshahi, and Dhaka Capitals.听
Chittagong, who are at three, had a mixed leg with three losses in five matches. Though, the port city-based team so far has a hefty net run rate, which could be crucial going forward.听
Khulna, after having a tough outing in Sylhet, were back in the winning mix in Chattogram. They won two and lost two matches.听
Rajshahi were in talks for both on and off-the-field reasons in Chattogram.听
The players of the new franchise have reportedly refused to take part in their first practice in the port city due to their unpaid remuneration. They even threatened to boycott their first match.听
The BCB got involved, and the players reportedly received a percentage of their payments. They were promised to get another percentage before the Dhaka phase.听
One foreign player also reportedly complained to the BCB over his non-payment issue.听
Rajshahi also changed their captain midway as Anamul Haque was replaced by Taskin Ahmed after a seven-run loss to Khulna.听
Anamul hit a hundred in that match but couldn鈥檛 get his team over the line as Rajshahi failed to score 25 from the last 12 deliveries with seven wickets in hand while chasing 209.
However, two wins from four matches have put Rajshahi in the mix, as they currently have eight points with two matches remaining.听
However, their net run rate can haunt them in the future. They even lost by 111 runs to Chittagong.
Dhaka were reeling with a six-match losing streak and just one point but managed to stay afloat by winning two consecutive matches in Chattogram.听
However, with only six points so far and two matches left, they face a significant challenge ahead and must also monitor the outcomes of other matches.
Sylhet Strikers lost to Rajshahi, Dhaka, and Khulna. They haven鈥檛 been officially out of the race, but with only two wins from nine games, it鈥檚 all but over for them.听
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POINTS TABLE AFTER CHATTOGRAM PHASE
Team听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听M听听听听听听听听听听听 W听听听听听听听听听听听 L 听听听听听听听听听听听听 T听听听听听听听听听听听听听 N/R听听听听听听听 PT听听听听听听听听听听 NRR
Rngpur Riders听 听 听 听 9听听听听听听听听听听听听听 8听听听听听听听听听听听听听 1听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 16听听听听听听听听听听 1.223
Fortune Barishal听 听 听 8听听听听听听听听听听听听听 6听听听听听听听听听听听听听 2听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 12听听听听听听听听听听 0.993
Chittagong Kings听 听 听9听听听听听听听听听听听听听 5听听听听听听听听听听听听听 4听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 10听听听听听听听听听听 1.045
Khulna Tigers听 听 听 听 听 听9听听听听听听听听听听听听听 4听听听听听听听听听听听听听 5听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 8听听听听听听听听听听听听听 -0.148
Durbar Rajshahi听 听 听 听 10听听听听听听听听听听 4听听听听听听听听听听听听听 6听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 8听听听听听听听听听听听听听 -1.400
Dhaka Capitals听 听 听 听 听10听听听听听听听听听听 3听听听听听听听听听听听听听 7听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 6听听听听听听听听听听听听听 -0.156
Sylhet Strikers听 听 听 听 听 9听听听听听听听听听听听听听 2听听听听听听听听听听听听听 7听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 0听听听听听听听听听听听听听 4听听听听听听听听听听听听听 -1.248