Cricket
BPL 2023 Final: Shanto, Mushfiq power Sylhet to 175-7 against Comilla
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, both of whom scored a fifty each, helped Sylhet Strikers post 175-7 in 20 overs against Comilla Victorians in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2023 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Thursday.
Comilla's fielders were surprisingly sloppy, conceding at least 25-30 runs due to misfielding and dropped catches.
Towhid Hridoy, who hit five fifties in this BPL, made a duck. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, captain of Sylhet, came to bat at number three, as he did in the second qualifier. But this time the plan did not work for him.
So, the onus was on Shanto and Mushfiqur to rescue their team. And the duo added 79 runs off 56 balls in the third wicket stand.
Read: Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Strikers Set for High-Stakes Showdown in BPL Final
Shanto hit nine fours and a six in his 45-ball 64. He was dismissed by Moeen Ali in the 13th over, leaving Sylhet at 105-3.
Mushfiqur continued to anchor the innings. He remained unbeaten on 74 off 48 balls, with five fours and three sixes. He added 29 runs with Ryan Burl (13), who was caught by Mosaddek Hossain off Mustafizur Rahman in the 16th over.
George Linde (9) hit a four before being caught by Litton Das off Mustafizur in the 18th over. Zakir Hasan (1) was run out by Moeen Ali in the penultimate over.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib joined Mushfiqur for the last four balls and remained not out for zero.
For Comilla, Mustafizur was the most successful bowler, grabbing two wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Moeen Ali, Tanvir Islam, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell took one wicket each.
Sylhet Strikers are playing their first BPL final after topping the points table. Comilla Victorians are defending champions who beat Rangpur Riders by seven wickets in last year's final.
BPL Final Live Streaming 2023: How and Where to watch Cumilla Victorians Vs Sylhet Strikers Final Match, Predicted XI
2022-23 Bangladesh Premier League Final sees Comilla Victorians, the current holders, take on Sylhet Strikers, who finished top of the group stage, on Thursday evening in Mirpur. Cumilla Victorians beat the Sylhet Strikers in Qualifier 1 before the Strikers defeated Rangpur Riders in Qualifier 2 on Tuesday. Let’s check where to watch live BPL 2023 Final
Since Match 11 of the tournament, Comilla Victorians have not lost a game. They beat the Strikers easily in their last meeting and will be very confident of defending their trophy in this match.
Sylhet Strikers have had an inconsistent end to the season but had enough quality to win a close game against Rangpur Riders on Tuesday. They will need to be at their best if they are to win this final.
Read More: Sylhet Strikers' Shanto fined for breach of code of conduct
How to watch BPL Final 2023
Comilla Victorians vs Sylhet Strikers BPL Final Live Streaming TV Channels This match will be shown live on GTV, Sony Liv, GeoSuper and Willow TV and Nagarik TV.BPL Live 2023 from different countries
Bangladesh: Fans in Bangladesh can watch BPL 2023 final match will be live streamed on the Daraz OTT platform.
Pakistan: Those wishing to catch a glimpse of the action in Pakistan can do so on Geo and PTV.US: ESPN+ will broadcast the games in the United States.
Also read; Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Strikers Set for High-Stakes Showdown in BPL Final
BPL Final Live from UK: Viaplay will provide live streaming of the BPL in the United Kingdom.BPL Final 2023 Live from India
In India, viewers can live stream the action on Fancode. Fans wishing to watch the game on TV can do so on Eurosport.
For other locations, the matches will be available on 27thsports.com
BPL Final 2023 Live on Youtube and Facebook
Various Facebook page and YouTube channels will also Live Stream BPL Final Match 2023 BPL Final 2023 Pitch Report
There is pace, bounce and good carry in this pitch and expecting fast bowlers to be dangerous to face. Equally, stroke-making batters have had success here in Mirpur and a par score will be around 175.
Read More: Sylhet Strikers' Shanto fined for breach of code of conduct
Comilla Victorians Playing 11 and Team News
Litton Das, Imrul Kayes (c), Sunil Narine, Johnson Charles, Moeen Ali, Mosaddek Hossain, Jaker Ali (wk), Andre Russell, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanvir Islam, Mukidul Islam
Sylhet Strikers Playing 11 and Team News
Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Zakir Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Ryan Burl, Rubel Hossain Thisara Perera, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, George Linde, Luke Wood.
Read More: BPL Final Live Streaming 2023: How and Where to watch Cumilla Victorians Vs Sylhet Strikers Final Match, Predicted XI
Sylhet Strikers' Shanto fined for breach of code of conduct
Najmul Hossain Shanto, opening batsman of Sylhet Strikers, has been fined 30 percent of his match fees for violating the BCB Code of Conduct during Tuesday's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against Rangpur Riders.
The Level 1 breach took place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Shanto was found to have shown dissent towards an umpire's decision, a violation of Article 2.2 of the BCB Code of Conduct for players. However, the player accepted the penalty proposed by match referee ASM Roquibul Hassan, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.
Along with the fine, two demerit points were added to Shanto's disciplinary record, bringing the total number of demerit points to three. This was the second time that the player violated the code of conduct.
The charges against Shanto were made by on-field umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri, Prageeth Rambukwella, third umpire Tanvir Ahmed, and fourth official Ali Arman Rajon.
Level 1 Code of Conduct breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player's match fee, as well as one or two demerit points.
Read more: 4 BPL players and coaches fined for breaching code of conduct
Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Strikers Set for High-Stakes Showdown in BPL Final
Comilla Victorians, the most successful team in the league's history, is all set to take on the Sylhet Strikers, who have made it to the final for the first time. The final will be played on Thursday at Mirpur, Dhaka.
While Comilla has been the most successful team in the league, the Strikers are led by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the captain who has won the BPL title more times than anyone else, making the final a unique rivalry.
Sylhet finished at the top of the points table in the league phase and had a great run throughout. However, they lost the first qualifier to Comilla and had to beat Rangpur Riders in the second qualifier to make it to the final.
Towhid Hriody and Najmul Hossain Shanto, both local batters, have been the key architects of Sylhet Strikers’ most successful run in the BPL. Towhid has scored five fifties this season, while Shanto has knocked two. Despite suffering a brief hand injury, Towhid has maintained his zeal throughout. Remarkably, both batters have scored over 400 runs so far, with only one other player achieving this feat.
“Our priority is team performance over individual performance,” said Sylhet’s left-handed opener Shanto ahead of the final. “It’s great to see that Towhid is also doing well, and the healthy competition between us is a positive thing. Our common goal is to excel in our game and win the match tomorrow.”
The Strikers’ main bowlers are Mohammad Amir, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Mashrafe, and Imad Wasim. On the other hand, Comilla has relied heavily on Mohammad Rizwan and Khushdil Shah, who have averages of 50 and 47, respectively. Tanvir Islam led Comilla's bowling attack, taking 16 wickets, just one short of the highest-wicket taker.
According to Comilla captain Imrul Kayes, who has already won two BPL titles, the final is going to be a high-octane match. He believes the team that can manage their nerves well will have a better chance of lifting the title.
“The match is going to be a battle of the minds,” Imrul said. “In high-pressure games, the team that can keep their nerves under control is the one that tends to perform better. It's important to manage oneself in these situations. Even if a team scores two hundred runs, there's no guarantee they will win.”
The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm, and a concert featuring renowned Bangladeshi bands will take place at the venue before the game.
Australia cruises past Bangladesh at Women's T20 World Cup
Australia legspinner Georgia Wareham made the most of her first international match in more than a year, taking 3-20 as the defending champions eased to victory over Bangladesh by eight wickets at the Women's T20 World Cup on Tuesday.
Australia joined Sri Lanka with two wins from two in Group 1 and went back to the top on net run rate.
Wareham, whose last international was in October 2021, was pivotal as Australia limited Bangladesh to 107-7, where only captain Nigar Sultana's 57 from 50 balls stood out.
The Aussies were untroubled in their chase, cruising to 111-2 in 18.2 overs and led home by captain Meg Lanning, who barely got out of second gear in her 48 not out.
Opener Alyssa Healy hit 37 from 36 at the top to put the world's top-ranked team on the way to another impressive win. Australia beat New Zealand by a whopping 97 runs in the first game of its title defense.
Australia is the dominant force in women's cricket and has won five of the seven T20 World Cups and is seeking a third straight title.
Read more: BPL 2023 Final Preview: Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians, Who Will Win the Title?
Wareham had a long road back to international cricket after rupturing a ligament in her left knee more than a year ago.
On her comeback, the 23-year-old spinner picked up the wickets of Sobhana Mostary (7), Shorna Akter (12) and Rumana Ahmed (4) in Bangladesh's middle order as Australia took control and never relinquished it in the first game of the World Cup in Gqeberha, the city formerly known as Port Elizabeth.
“It’s pretty special any time to play for your country,” Wareham said. “To do that at the World Cup and get a few wickets, it’s pretty cool.”
India is back in action Wednesday against West Indies and could join England with two wins from two in Group 2.
India is also expected to be boosted by the return of star batter Smriti Mandhana, who is set to come back into the team after missing the opening win over Pakistan with a finger injury.
Mandhana is likely to be in good spirits after she was the most expensive player to be bought at the Women's Premier League auction in India on Monday.
The top two teams from each of the two preliminary groups advance straight to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. The teams currently in position to progress are Australia, Sri Lanka, England and India.
BPL 2023 Final Preview: Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians, Who Will Win the Title?
The ninth season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) started quietly on January 6 as there was no opening ceremony for the spectators. Also, the tournament was criticized from the beginning due to several reasons. However, as the matches were played, the tournament became exciting. And the final game Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians is ready to take place on February 16. Both teams will enter the final with 18 points with nine wins and three losses. So, it can be said that the match will be highly competitive. So, who will win the 2023 BPL? Let’s explore.
BPL 2023 Final Venue, Schedule
The BPL 2023 final will take place on February 16 at Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Mirpur. The game will begin at 6:30 PM. However, the closing ceremony featuring Nagarbaul (James), Warfaze, and Maqsood O’ Dhaka will start at 3 PM.
Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians 2023 BPL Final Preview
The reigning champions, Comilla Victorians, lost their first three matches in the BPL this year. After that, there is no loss. After winning ten matches in a row, they were the first to reach the finals. They are being quickly separated from the rest of the teams in the playoff round, considering sync in the squad.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Khushdil Shah returned after playing a major role in the league phase of the tournament. However, their absence was not felt at all in Comilla in the playoffs. Before the playoffs, they added franchise T20 world-renowned names.
Read More: BPL 2023: Strikers march into final in first for Sylhet franchise
With the addition of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Moeen Ali, Comilla looks quite different from the rest of the teams. In the first qualifier game against Sylhet Strikers on Sunday, the most successful team of the BPL Comilla emerged victorious, stopping their opponents at 125 runs. Apart from foreign cricketers, the country’s best opener Litton Das, cutter master Mustafizur Rahman is also the big hope of the team in the final.
On the other hand, Sylhet Strikers have never played in the final in BPL before. However, Sylhet reached the final for the first time under the leadership of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the most successful captain in BPL history.
As a captain, Mashrafe reached the BPL final for a record fifth time. And with the Mashrafe’s leadership, they were seen as different from the beginning of the season. Sylhet Strikers entered the BPL final for the first time by defeating Rangpur Riders by 19 runs in the fiercely contested second eliminator.
Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians Head to Head at BPL
So far Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Strikers have met 13 times in BPL. The 2023 final will be their 14th meeting. Out of the 13 meetings, they played each other 3 times this year. Victorians have won 10 matches so far, while Sylhet Strikers were able to win 3 matches. This year, Sylhet won one game out of the three. Among all their matchups, their first group stage match in 2020, BPL was highly competitive. The match was tied, and Comilla won the game in the super-over.
Read More: BPL 2023: Tickets for Final Available on Wednesday
BPL 2023 Final: Probable Playing XI
Sylhet Strikers:
Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Ryan Burl, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Imad Wasim, Gulbadin Naib, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Amir, Rubel Hossain.
Comilla Victorians:
Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Litton Das, Imrul Kayes (c), Mosaddek Hossain, Jaker Ali, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mukidul Islam, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.
Key Players to Watch in Sylhet Strikers
The team contains some of the best players in the tournament. However, a few of them have been consistent throughout the tournament. Let’s get to know about them.
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Shanto has been very promising this season. He has some match-winning performances, such as 60 runs against Chattogram Challengers and 89 runs (not out) against Fortune Barishal. Apart from these outstanding performances, Shanto has played a significant role in the team as a batter. Even he had the highest score with 38 runs against the Victorians in the first qualifier match. So, he might lead the team to victory in the final game.
Read More: 4 BPL players and coaches fined for breaching code of conduct.
Towhid Hridoy
He has been a hard hitter in 2023 BPL. He won four players of the match this season. Hridoy delivered some incredible batting skills. Among his hard-hitting performances, 85 runs from 57 balls against Rangpur Riders and 84 runs from 46 balls against Dhaka Dominators are notable. So, it can be said that he has the ability to change the momentum of a game. And it is clear that Sylhet will surely rely on him in the final.
Rubel Hossain
Rubel was a key performer in the first qualifier match against Comilla Victorians as he took 3 wickets. So, he is expected to repeat his performance in the final. Rubel’s best performance came against the Khulna Tigers. In that match, he took four wickets.
Key Players to Watch in Comilla Victorians
Comilla picked some star players in the auction. And most of those star players were perfectly used. However, the following players might make a difference in the final.
Litton Das
The opener Litton Das is a key batter for Comilla this season. He has some top scores for the team, such as 70 runs from 42 balls against Sylhet Strikers and 47 runs against Rangpur Raiders. Since he was outstanding against Sylhet, Litton will surely try to repeat his batting style and help Victorians to collect a big score.
Read More: 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Prospect of Bangladesh Squad
Mohammad Rizwan
Rizwan has a great chance to help Victorians in the final in both wicket keeping and batting. He has scored some match-winning runs in the group stage. For example, 61 runs from 47 balls against the Chattogram Challengers and 54 runs against the Khulna Tigers.
Mukidul Islam
Mukidul Islam is the master of keeping Comilla’s goal within reach. He gave his best performance against Fortune Barishal. This young man took 5 wickets for just 23 runs with the best bowling record among Bangladeshi pacers in BPL history. This is the first 5 wickets of his T20 career. He seems to be very promising, and it is sure that Mukidul will give his best in the final against the Sylhet Strikers.
Who will Win BPL 2023?
Considering the facts and this year’s performance, Comilla Victorians has a great chance to win the BPL 2023. Comilla, who have won three BPL title, have a wealth of experience in playing big games.
Foreign players in Comilla Victorians also regularly play intense matches in other franchises. It looks like it will be easier to keep the nerves in the finals this time as well. Playoffs and finals are always pressured games and require a lot of nerve to play.
Read More: Bangladesh vs England ODI Series 2023 Preview: Schedule, Fixtures, Team
Almost all the Victorians players have a lot of experience in finals. So, the team will benefit from the experienced players, and Comilla will certainly have an advantage like the previous year. They almost lost the whole match in BPL 2022 final, but they managed to hold their nerve at the very end, and they won the title. And they are looking to win this year too.
On the other hand, Mashrafe will lead the Sylhet Strikers. This will be his 5th BPL final, and Mashrafe won all four finals. The former captain of the national team reached the final of the BPL after six years. Last time he won the title with Rangpur Raiders, and the Raiders achieved their first title by defeating Dhaka Dynamites in 2017.
Since Mashrafe made it a rule to win titles if he reaches the BPL final, we cannot deny Sylhet’s chance this year. Veteran cricketer Mashrafe's tactics will surely increase the chances for Sylhet.
Read More: BAN vs ENG Series 2023: England Squad Analysis
Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians 2023 BPL Final’s Ticket Price
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released the ticket price list for the BPL final. The minimum ticket price for Thursday’s final match at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium is Tk 300. The game can be watched sitting in the Eastern Stand for 300 takas. Tickets for North and South Stands cost Tk 400, and Club House costs Tk 800. Ticket prices for the VIP stand have been set at Tk 1500, and tickets for the Grandstand can be purchased for a maximum of 2000 taka.
These tickets can be collected from the counters next to Gate No. 1 of Mirpur Stadium and Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium, Mirpur, both the day before and on the day of the match, between 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM.
BPL 2023 Closing Ceremony
Although the whole tournament was dull, BCB is trying to give a boost to the final by arranging a closing ceremony. Popular bands Nagarbaul (James) and Warfaze will grace the stage before the final. And it is expected that Maqsood O’ Dhaka will also join.
Read More: 'Chandika not as strict as we think': Khaled Mahmud
Final Words
It will be an intense moment for the Sylhet Strikers as they have reached the final for the first time. On the other hand, Comilla Victorians will be looking to bag their fourth title and second in a row. Hence, there is no doubt that the BPL 2023 final will be highly competitive as both teams have some top-class players who can change the game anytime. So, who do you think will win the 2023 BPL trophy in the final match Sylhet Strikers vs Comilla Victorians?
BPL 2023: Strikers march into final in first for Sylhet franchise
Sylhet Strikers provided their fans with the ultimate Bashonti present by advancing to the final of this year's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with a 19-run victory over Rangpur Riders on Tuesday in Mirpur.
The Strikers, led by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, will now face the Comilla Victorians in the final on February 16th. It will be the first time a Sylhet franchise will compete in the BPL final.
Rangpur needed 28 runs in the last over to chase down the target of 183. Rubel Hossain conceded two fours off the first two balls, but he made a comeback off the last three balls and ensured a win for the Strikers.
Before failing to score 28 runs in the last over, the Riders were going well. In the fourth-wicket partnership, Nurul Hasan Shohan and Rony kept the scorecard afloat. They scored 82 off 52 balls. The partnership was broken after a drama unfolded when Mushfiqur Rahim returned to the field.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was absent from the field at the start of the second innings. In his absence, Akbar Ali, a substitute fielder, kept wicket for the Strikers. However, when Mushfiqur returned to the field before the 17th over, the playing conditions required him to resume his role as the designated wicketkeeper of the Strikers. For unknown reasons, Mushfiqur was unable to take on this responsibility.
In this scenario, the Strikers had two options: either to give the gloves to Mushfiqur and replace Akbar or to choose someone from the playing XI to take on the role. The Strikers decided to entrust Zakir Hasan with the gloves. This drama caused a pause in the match that lasted several minutes.
In the meantime, Nurul and Rony lost momentum. Off the first ball of the 17th over, Sakib dismissed Nurul. In the same over, Rony was trapped run-out by Zakir. And the Riders never got the momentum back.
Dasun Shanaka and Mahedi Hasan, two batters who had the onus on them to get going for the Riders, failed, and eventually, the Riders tumbled for 163 for eight in 20 overs.
Luke Wood scalped three wickets for the Strikers, while Rubel and Sakib took two wickets each.
Read more: BPL 2023: Rangpur book last playoff spot beating Dhaka
Earlier, the Riders won the toss and sent the Strikers to bat first. The in-form Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto ensured a blistering first-wicket stand, scoring 65 off nine overs.
After Hridoy was sent back by Hasan Mahmud, Mashrafe surprised many by putting himself to bat at number three. He also displayed some old batting glimpses, scoring 28 off just 16 balls at an average of 175. Thisara Perera and George Linde also contributed well, scoring 21 each.
Hasan Mahmud and Dasun Shanaka took two wickets each. But their efforts were not enough to restrict the Strikers to a lower total.
BPL 2023: Tickets for Final Available on Wednesday
Tickets for the final of the ongoing season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will be available for purchase from tomorrow, Wednesday, 15 February 2023.
The final of BPL 2023 promises to be an exciting event for cricket fans, with an added bonus of a grand concert featuring some of the best local bands and singers.
According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive officer, Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, the concert is expected to start at approximately 3 pm on match day, followed by the final match at 6:30 pm.
Fans can buy tickets for the match from the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur and the ticket booth adjacent to Gate 1 of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, also in Mirpur.
The ticket prices for the different stands are as follows: Grand Stand - TK 2,000, VIP Stand - TK 1,500, Club House - TK 800, North/South Stand - TK 400, and Eastern Stand - TK 300.
The tickets will be sold on match day and the day before. Ticket counters and booths will open from 9:30 am and continue until 7:30 pm, subject to the availability of tickets.
PSL: Shakib Al Hasan to join Peshawar Zalmi
Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Peshawar Zalmi has confirmed the signing of Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Shakib, a highly sought-after player, recently led Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Although Fortune Barishal was eliminated from the BPL after losing to Rangpur Riders in the eliminator, Shakib had a successful run in the tournament. He scored 375 runs in 13 matches and took 10 wickets.
Shakib will be joining Peshawar Zalmi as a supplementary player and will be available to play until February 26, said the Zalmi media team Monday.
A close source of Shakib also confirmed this development, adding that the all-rounder is "excited to join the PSL and play alongside some of the best players in the world."
Peshawar Zalmi lifted their first and only PSL title in 2017. And since then, they have consistently been a top-performing team, finishing as runners-up in 2019 and 2021.
BPL 2023: Lower prices announced for 2nd qualifier tickets
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has announced a lower ticket price for the 2nd qualifier, which will be played on February 14 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Sylhet Strikers will take on the Rangpur Riders in the 2nd qualifier, and it will determine which team will challenge the Comilla Victorians in the grand finale on February 16.
The tickets for this match are now discounted, as compared to the first qualifier. Fans can buy their tickets at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium and the ticket booth adjacent to Gate 1 of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Read More: BPL 2023: Dhaka end with another defeat
The tickets are priced from Tk 100 to Tk 1,000, depending on the stand the fans choose. The grandstand is the most expensive option, and it offers the best view of the game. The eastern stand is the cheapest option but still provides a decent view. The VIP stand, the clubhouse, and the north/south stand are also available at different ticket prices.
The ticket counters will remain open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm. Each fan can buy up to four tickets.
On their way to the 2nd qualifier, the Sylhet Strikers lost the first qualifier to the Comilla Victorians, while the Rangpur Riders won the eliminator against the Fortune Barishal. The second qualifier match will start at 2:00 pm on February 14.
Read more: BPL 2023: Khulna sign off on high note