Rupganj qualify for Super League with advantage; BKSP, Brothers Union enter relegation playoffs

Legends of Rupganj have entered the Dhaka Premier League's Super League stage, winning ten of their eleven league games in the first phase that ended on Thursday. Rupganj a four-point lead at the top of the table, giving them a big advantage while entering the tournament's crucial final phase. Defending champions Abahani Limited and Prime Bank Cricket Club both have 16 points respectively, with Abahani having the superior net run-rate.

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are the three other clubs that have qualified for the Super League. At the other end of the points table, the newly-promoted Uttara Sporting Club and BKSP, alongside Brothers Union, have slipped into the relegation zone. The three clubs will now have to take part in a playoff to determine which two teams are demoted to the Dhaka First Division Cricket League next season.

But the talk of the league so far has been Rupganj's impressive campaign. It is not the most star-studded side, but the experienced Naeem Islam has led them well. Mohammad Naim and Mehedi Maruf have been their two top-scorers, with Naeem and Mominul Haque helping them with important runs. They have banked on a team combination which has been orchestrated by Naeem and coach Aftab Ahmed, the former Bangladesh batsman who took to coaching only a few years ago.

Left-arm spinner Nabil Samad and seamer Mohammad Shahid have been their leading bowlers, both taking 15 wickets apiece in 10 games.

Currently, the batting charts are led by Raqibul Hasan (Mohammedan), Jahurul Islam (Abahani) and Anamul Haque (Prime Bank), who are the only batsmen to cross the 500-run mark so far. Anamul has struck three hundreds in a row. The veteran seaming allrounder Farhad Reza, young pace bowler Robiul Haque and rookie left-arm spinner Hasan Murad are the ones with 20 or more wickets. Mashrafe Mortaza's 6 for 46 has been the best bowling figures of the tournament so far.

The DPL also marked Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman's return from injury, although several other senior Bangladesh players such as Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim have taken a break from the competition due to a variety of reasons.