BPL 2019: Five debutants who can light up the tournament

After a break of over a year, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) surely guarantees to come back on a massive scale. The overseas cricketers will be the significant attractions of BPL 2019. Some of the biggest T20 stars, who never graced the league earlier, will be the centre of attraction in the upcoming season.

These cricketers will be making their debut in the sixth edition of the league and are expected to set the stage on fire. Their presence has raised the market value and expectations of the tournament manifold. Among all the players debuting in 2019, five players stand out and the fans can’t wait to watch them in action.

Five debutants who could glorify BPL 2019:

1. Hazratullah Zazai | Dhaka Dynamites

The Dhaka franchise is undoubtedly the most successful team in the BPL. Earlier referred to as Dhaka Gladiators (dissolved in 2013), they won the first two editions of the league. After they were rebranded as Dhaka Dynamites, the side managed to lift the trophy in 2016. They finished second in 2017. In their hunt to lift the title yet again, the franchise has formed a mighty strong side that is tough to defeat.

The biggest addition in their squad for them is Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai. In the recently concluded Afghanistan Premier League (APL), he scored 322 runs in 10 games. He scored at a strike rate of 194 and also hit six sixes in an over against Balkh Legends. With a lot of depth in the batting lineup, Zazai could be given the licence to go after the bowlers without the fear of losing his wicket.

2. Steve Smith | Comilla Victorians

In order to accommodate former Australian captain Steve Smith, the BCB even tweaked its rules ahead of the season this year. Every franchise was then allowed to replace a maximum of one outside-the-draft player with another after all the deliberations. Hence, the banned cricketer will be able to represent the Comilla Victorians, captained by Tamim Iqbal, in the T20 tournament.

Smith will replace Sri Lankan all-rounder Asela Gunaratne and will join the tournament in the second week of January. After the ban was imposed on him, Smith played in the Global T20 Canada and the Caribbean Premier League. However, he failed to deliver and didn’t seem to be at his best. But, it is high time that he leaves behind the bruises of the past and starts performing as his ban period is soon to end.

3. AB de Villiers | Rangpur Riders

AB de Villiers shocked the cricketing fraternity with his sudden retirement last year. Even since then, he has had a lot of free time and spent a majority of it off the field. It was only in November that he made his way back with the inaugural edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL). He led the Tshwane Spartans in the tournament but didn’t have the best of times.

His team didn’t live up to the expectations in the MSL. AB de Villiers too didn’t seem to be at his complete best either. He scored 282 runs in 10 games at an average of 31 and strike rate of 162. ABD will hope to put up a better performance in BPL 2019 and thus put his team on the top.

4. Sandeep Lamichhane | Sylhet Sixers

Young Sandeep Lamichhane had a great start to the year with some good performances in the Big Bash League (BBL). He picked 8 wickets in just 4 games and was a treat to watch. However, he will now fly to Bangladesh to take part in the BPL. The leg-spinner is expected to be the trump card for the Sylhet Sixers.

The 18-year-old played 16 T20 games in his career thus far and has accounted for 22 wickets. Sandeep bowls at a great economy and has got numerous variations up his sleeve. The Sixers will want him to bring his BBL form into the BPL 2019 and thus pull off some memorable performances.

5. David Warner | Sylhet Sixers

David Warner, the tainted Aussie batsman, has got a wonderful opportunity to redeem himself on the cricket pitch. After the recent interviews of Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, there are several questions that are being raised about his leadership. But, he will now require to answer his critics being at the helm with the Sylhet Sixers.

Warner will undoubtedly be extremely determined to lead the Sixers from the front and bring out positive results. Even though he wasn’t great in the Global T20 Canada and the CPL, it is crucial for him to gain back the lost form, leave the bad memories behind and start afresh. His ban period ends of 29 March 2019.

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