Chattogram Royals faced significant turbulence even before the first ball of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was bowled. Just a day prior to the tournament’s kickoff, the Royals franchise owners pulled out after failing to secure any sponsorship. This led to jerseys being left without sponsors, and bus branding took nearly a week to materialize.
However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stepped in and took over the team in line with the policy for this season. Since the takeover, the players have experienced a sense of relief, freed from the controversies surrounding the previous owners. In a press conference, captain Shak Mahedi Hasan confirmed that the team felt reassured after the BCB assumed control.
Despite these setbacks, the Royals began their campaign in style by defeating Noakhali Royals. The team faced additional challenges as several foreign cricketers withdrew from the BPL at the last moment.
For their opening match, the Royals had only two foreign players. Masood Gurbaz, who brought experience from the Abu Dhabi T10, and Pakistani player Mirza Tahir Baig. Even with this limited overseas presence, the Royals managed a convincing win.
In their second match in Sylhet against Rangpur Riders, the Royals were outplayed across all three departments of the game. On Friday, however, they bounced back impressively against Dhaka Capitals, chasing down 122 runs in just 12.4 overs. A 10-wicket victory propelled them to second place on the points table and injected a renewed sense of confidence into the squad.
Shoriful Islam spearheaded the bowling attack, dismantling Dhaka’s batting lineup with figures of 4-0-18-3, including 16 dot balls. Captain Shak Mahedi and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam complemented the effort perfectly. Off-spinner Mahedi claimed two wickets in his four overs at the cost of 34 runs, while Tanvir produced an outstanding performance with 4-0-8-3, restricting Dhaka to under 125 runs.
During the chase, Adam Rossington played a commanding 60 not out off 36 balls, striking nine fours and two sixes. He also made four stumpings from behind the wicket. Rossington had arrived in Bangladesh only a few hours before the Rangpur match but adapted quickly to make an impact on the field. Despite a quiet BPL debut, he showcased his potential in this match.
After securing the man of the match award, Rossington said in the press conference, “It’s a great opportunity to come and play over here. I would say that that first game was a tough game coming straight off the flight and straight to the ground. But it’s nice to bounce back now and and get that win.”
Naim Sheikh, the most expensive cricketer in BPL history, has been the focal point of the Royals’ batting lineup. The team relies heavily on him, with much of the batting order built around his abilities. In the first match, Naim managed only 11 runs. Against Rangpur, he showed glimpses of his class, hitting the fastest Bangladeshi bowler Nahid Rana for 22 runs and lofting Mustafizur Rahman for a six with a lofted bowlers back drive.
It was in the third match, however, that the BDT 1.10 crore left-handed opener truly proved his worth. On a tricky Sylhet surface, Naim scored a vital 59* off 40 balls, anchoring the innings and rising to the occasion as the situation demanded.
The Royals are also working to strengthen their middle order with players like Aamir Jamal and Asif Ali. With a potent bowling attack built largely on local talent, complemented by new recruits Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the team now looks well-positioned to move forward and make a statement in this season’s BPL
