The Durbar Rajshahi defeated Rangpur Riders by 2 runs in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 match 34 on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. (More Cricket News)
This match started differently because, on January 26 the BPL technical committee announced that Durbar Rajshahi would play Rangpur Riders with no foreign players, owing to a dispute over payments.
The overseas players of Rajshahi refused to take the field in Dhaka, prompting the team to request special approval from the BPL Technical Committee to field a squad consisting only of Bangladeshi players.
BCB confirmed approval for the one-of-a-kind scheme for the 2025 BPL in an official statement.
After winning the toss, Rangpur Riders opted to bowl first. Struggling to get off to a quick start after lost wickets at regular intervals, Rajshahi ended up batting first. Renduring the batters to stagnate was Rangpur's fast and spin bowlers who were bowling tight lines.
A brave effort from Sunzamul Islam with the bat got Rajshahi out of the crisis and mustered it to a paltry total of 119, which turned out to be crucial in the end.
Taskin Ahmed made an explosive start, while Mrittunjoy Chowdhury also exploited the condition to inflict Rangpur at 23/4 in their Powerplay. Despite some late resistance from Mohammad Saifuddin and Rakibul Hasan, the pressure caused the batting to snap.
Mrittunjoy won Player of the Match award with an impressive 4 for 18 from his 4 overs, including a maiden. Durbar Rajshahi completed a season double over Rangpur Riders, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Playing XIs
Rangpur Riders (Playing XI): Steven Taylor, Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Nurul Hasan(w/c), Mahedi Hasan, Rakibul Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahid Rana, Akif Javed
Durbar Rajshahi (Playing XI): Sabbir Hossain, Anamul Haque, Yasir Ali, Akbar Ali(w), SM Meherob, Sunzamul Islam, Jishan Alam, Taskin Ahmed(c), Mohor Sheikh, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman
