BPL 2017: 5 Prominent batters who are expected to rule the tournament

Bangladesh Premier League is gearing up for its fifth season. One of the fastest growing cricket nations, Bangladesh has a fantastic T20 tournament. BPL is extremely loved by the passionate fans in the country. All the games are sold out and the craze for cricket is no less than any other sub-continent country.

BPL has a great set of players and when it comes to T20 cricket, batting is where all the entertainment lies. The T20 league of Bangladesh has some superstars in the tournament. The squads of each team look great but today we are going to look at the most prominent batsmen in the tournament. These batters will light up the tournament with the fireworks of their own. Let us look at five such batters.

#1 Tamim Iqbal – Comilla Victorians

Tamim Iqbal needs no introduction. He is a world-renowned player and also as dangerous as anyone. Iqbal has been a run-machine for the national team. He has played some blinders for his team and is a match winner. In his own backyard, he is even more dangerous. A nerveless opener is one of the fiercest in the game.

He has over a thousand runs in T20 internationals and averages around 24. He was playing for the Chittagong Vikings previously but has made a move to Comilla Victorians this season. The 28-year-old will be vital for the Vikings as they will have to make sure he fires for them. The franchise will be hoping for the southpaw to come out with his A game and take them deep in the tournament.

#2 Evin Lewis – Dhaka Dynamites

Evin Lewis is the emerging star of West Indies cricket. He was their star performer in the recent times and was filling in for the absent Chris Gayle. He is a powerful hitter of the ball and can play throughout the innings. It is a matter of finding a rhythm and once he does it, there is no stopping Lewis.

The 25-year-old averages around 36 in T20 internationals and has the highest of 125. T20 might be his speciality as he has a knack of playing to the instincts. He will be very useful for Dhaka Dynamites. Lewis also has an impressive strike rate of 154.87 to his name. These numbers surely don’t lie and Evin Lewis will guarantee some entertainment.

#3 Shoaib Malik – Comilla Victorians

Comilla Victorians have got another superstar in their squad. Shoaib Malik has risen to form in the recent games. He was termed as the man of the series in the T20 series against the Sri Lankans. Malik with the runs also brings in some invaluable experience. He will be coming in with a lot of confidence.

The 35-year-old has played over 90 T20 internationals and still averages around 30. He has a strike rate of 117 and has scored over 1500 runs in T20 cricket. Those are some impressive numbers. Comilla has got a priceless player in Shoaib and will be extremely important in the middle order. He also has a good arm and can bowl a few slow off spins as well.

#4 Jos Buttler – Comilla Victorians

Jos Buttler, an England product, and a fantastic batter. He can open, play in the middle order and can also come late as a pinch hitter. A natural hitter of the ball, Buttler has been impressive throughout his career. He has the habit of hitting the ball long and clean. Another advantage Buttler has that he has a lot of experience when it comes to franchise cricket.

His experience in the IPL will be very useful and the fact that he is a wicket-keeper makes it even better. The 27-year-old averages around 27 in T20Is and has just over 1000 runs. Buttler brings that flair to the already star-studded lineup of Comilla Victorians. It will be interesting to see if this man opens with Tamim Iqbal and if he does then it will be a nightmare for the bowlers.

#5 Babar Azam – Sylhet Sixers

Babar Azam is one of the shining stars of Pakistan. He has been outstanding for the Men in Green and was pivotal in their recent successes. Azam is a technically gifted player, he depends on his technique more than anything. He is one of the pillars in the middle order who anchors the innings. Azam will be very important to Sylhet Sixers.

He is extremely good in T20s as well. He averages a staggering 46 in the shortest format of the game. He also scores at a decent rate with the strike rate being 121. The youngster has the highest score of 86 and is a regular in the national T20 squad as well. Sylhet Sixers will rely on this player and their success also depends on Azam’s form.