Shoriful Islam Joins Lanka Premier League
Kandy Falcons’ New Addition
Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam has signed with the Kandy Falcons for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), a team led by Wanindu Hasaranga. Shoriful departed the country at noon to join his new team. He aims to overcome his regret of not playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by making a significant impact in the LPL.
Consistent Performer for Bangladesh
The 23-year-old pacer has been a consistent member of the national squad, participating in every series and format for a considerable time. During the World Cup warm-up match against India, Shoriful sustained a serious hand injury, which prevented him from playing in the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka. Although he recovered, his spot was taken by Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who performed impressively, leaving Shoriful out of the subsequent matches.
Missed IPL Opportunity
Previously, Shoriful missed the chance to play in the IPL because the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This year, four Bangladeshi cricketers, including Shoriful, will participate in the LPL. Shoriful joins Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Towhid Hridoy as the fourth Bangladeshi to play in the league.
No Internal Competition
Despite the competitive nature of cricket, Shoriful does not view his participation in the LPL as a competition with his fellow Bangladeshi players. He stated, “Of course, BCB didn’t approve the NOC because of the national commitment. Now there is no game, free time. There is no competition between us, we will try to do well. Then confidence will increase in ourselves.”
BCB’s Stance on NOCs
The BCB has a history of rejecting NOCs for Bangladeshi players, preventing them from playing in various leagues. However, following the T20 World Cup, seven players have been granted NOCs to participate in different competitions, and the Afghanistan series has been rescheduled. Shoriful applauds BCB for this decision, highlighting the benefits of playing in franchise leagues.
Learning from Franchise Leagues
Shoriful pointed to Afghan cricket players as an example of the benefits of playing in franchise leagues. He remarked, “It’s looking good. If you see Afghanistan players playing in a lot of franchise leagues, playing with players from all countries. Playing with big team players makes it easier for us. They know their weaknesses, so overall it’s good.”
Shoriful’s participation in the LPL represents not only a personal opportunity but also a chance for Bangladeshi cricket to gain more exposure and experience in international leagues.(live score cricket ipl)