The Bangladesh Premier League is set to shift to Sylhet on January 6, with expectations of more high-scoring encounters following a run-fest Dhaka phase that concluded on Friday.
Mirpur鈥檚 wicket typically offers low-scoring matches due to its slow and spin-friendly conditions, which often pose challenges for batters.聽
However, this year, three of the eight matches in the first phase between December 30 and January 3 saw teams scoring over 200 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, the highest so far in BPL history.
In the opening eight games, the average score was 165.5 runs, with three of those 16 innings witnessing 200-plus innings or more.聽
Among the rest of the innings, teams scored 150-plus on nine other occasions, and the average first innings total in those matches was 179.5鈥攎uch higher than last year鈥檚 first innings Dhaka phase total of 157.25.
The phase also featured standout individual performances, including Usman Khan鈥檚 123 for Chittagong, Thisara Perera鈥檚 103 for Dhaka Capitals, and Yasir Ali Rabbi鈥檚 94 for Rajshahi, the highest score among the local players.
As the Dhaka phase ended on a high note with most of the matches being high-scoring affairs, it is expected the next phase to be played from January 6-13, will also produce the same outcome.
鈥楾his year we had given only one instruction to the curators, which was to prepare sporting wickets. On previous occasions, the curators received three to four types of instructions, which confused them,鈥� Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed told media on Thursday.
The players were also pleased with the wicket as Rangpur Riders鈥� captain Nurul Hasan Sohan expressed satisfaction and lauded the improved playing surfaces.
鈥楥onsidering back-to-back matches at the same venue, the wickets are in good shape. We don鈥檛 have such luxuries like IPL. I think the wicket is good. The management is trying to put in effort. Let鈥檚 hope for the best,鈥� said Sohan.
Sylhet tends to be sporting wickets where both batters and bowlers can benefit if they can utilise it well.聽
Last year, the average score in Sylhet was 138.17, with 10 of the 12 matches producing totals of 150 or more.
After the Sylhet phase, the tournament will move to Chattogram from January 16 to 23.
Followed that, the BPL extravaganza will return to Dhaka and feature 14 matches, including play-offs and the final.