Race remains for top two spots

As the ongoing ninth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League enters its final three matchdays of the league stage, the top four spots are sealed, turning the final matches into a race for the top two spots.

Sylhet Strikers, Fortune Barishal, Comilla Victorians, and Rangpur Riders have already secured a place in the playoffs as there is a gulf between them and the other three teams, and now these four sides will aim to have a margin of error in the playoff stage.

The format of the playoff provides the top two sides of the league stage with two opportunities to reach the final, meaning even a defeat in the first qualifier would not knock them out. On the other hand, the third and fourth-placed sides meet in the eliminator, where a defeat would be the knockout punch.

Currently, Sylhet Strikers, who have been consistent throughout the tournament, sit top of the table with 16 points, two more than Barishal, Comilla, and Rangpur.

However, they have also played a match more, meaning the other three teams have the opportunity to catch up with them.

On Tuesday, the day’s first game would be a dead rubber as Dhaka Dominators and Chattogram Challengers, two teams who have already been knocked out will lock horns.

Nevertheless, the second of the day is set to be a blockbuster as Barishal will take on defending Champions Comilla, and a win for either would push them closer to the top two and the other farther.

For Sylhet, they have a comparatively easy game in hand as they will face second-bottom Khulna Tigers on Wednesday, with the current table-toppers having already won the reverse fixture.

While there batting has been firing at full throttle, courtesy of Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who currently have the first two positions of the run-scoring charts under their belt, Sylhet’s concern might be their bowling lineup as Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, two pillars of their bowling attack, have returned to their homeland for the Pakistan Super League.

But as qualification hangs on the line, Sylhet are trying to bring them back for their penultimate match of the group stage.

“Amir, Imad might return for the last match. They will probably come tomorrow (today) and play the last match as it is a vital one. If we can win, we may finish top of the table. That is why the management is trying to bring them back for one match,” Sylhet batting coach Tushar Imran said.

Barishal, who have a better net run rate than Sylhet, are only aiming at winning their final two matches to ensure that they finish in the top two.

“We have two very important matches ahead of us, especially tomorrow’s (today) match (against Comilla). We don’t have the space for experimenting. We will try to win the next two matches and finish in the top two. Our team is very good as well (as Comilla). We are all agile and we have to play well in this match,” Barishal pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed told the media on Monday.

Comilla are on a scintillating run of form as they have knotted together seven wins on the trot after starting their title defence with three successive defeats. A win against Barishal would see them leapfrog the last year’s runners-up and get level with Sylhet.

Rangpur, who will play against last-placed Chattogram on Wednesday, will also have the chance to do so, but their net run rate, which is lower than all three teams ahead of them, might hinder their chances to reach the top two, unless one of those three drop points.