C T Online Desk: Shakib al Hasan-led Fortune Barishal will take on a star studded Comilla Victorians to decide the champions of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 season 2022 at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.
The teams had finished in the top two spots at the league table and will now lock horns for the title.
Barishal have been led profoundly by Shakib, who delivered with both bat and ball, and had finished in the top of the table with 15 points and seven wins in 10 games before picking up a 10-run victory in the first qualifier against Comilla to step into the grand finale.
Barishal will have the confidence of having won the past two of their three matchups against two-time BPL champions Comilla.
The combination for the mega game is likely to be unchanged with in-form Shakib expected to deliver for the team for the last time this season.
In the batting unit, Barishal have suffered in the middle-order and it will be expected that Munim Shahriar and Chris Gayle deliver from the top.
Comilla should be worried of West Indies legend Gayle’s history of decimating opponents in crucial games.
Barishal’s attack consisting of Shakib along with Dwayne Bravo and Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a very tough one to negotiate for any opponent.
Comilla booked their spot in the final by getting the better of Chattogram Challengers in comfortable fashion, recording an impressive seven-wicket win with 43 balls to spare chasing 149 runs.
With the playing XI unchanged, Comilla led by left-handed batter Imrul Kayes will expect their big-name overseas cricketers in Sunil Narine, Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali to deliver and make the team lift the silverware.
Narine is the name to watch out by the opposition for the manner in which he demolished Chattogram in the previous game with the bat.
Promoted to open, the Windies cricketers produced a record 16-ball half century to guide the side to their target of 149 runs inside 13 overs.
The bowling department is in good form with left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, Moeen and right-arm paceman Shahidul Islam leading from the front.
If the surface in Mirpur remains how it has been throughout the BPL 2022 season, the limited number of fans who are being allowed into the stadium and viewers in front of the television can expect a run fest between the two teams.
