Victorians Mashrafee fit to clash Dynamites

Comilla Victorians heaved a sigh of relief as Mashrafee bin Murtaza is expected to be available in their opening game against Dhaka Dynamites today leaving behind his ankle injury. Mashrafee strained his ankle on Friday to give a scare in the Victorians dressing room but it won’t have an effect when they take on pre-tournament favourite Dynamites. Though he did not ball and arrived late in the practice due to his meeting with anti-corruption unit, the pace bowler took all the necessary steps including an individual gym session to prepare for the game. 

‘Mashrafee bhai will play tomorrow’s match,’ Mashrafee’s Comilla and National team’s team-mate, Imrul Kayes, told reporters on Saturday. ‘I think we have a balanced side and looking forward to the challenge,’ said Imrul. Mashrafee’s presence is all the more important for Victorians as they are expected to fight against Dynamites, who made their presence felt through bringing in Kumara Sangakkara, who arrived in Dhaka on Saturday morning. Sangakkara, who is supposed to lead dynamites, said he won’t find it difficult to gel with his team-mates as he feel they are professionals while his earlier experience against them would be also be helpful. 

‘Well these players have been playing a lot of cricket throughout and managing them won’t be hard,’ Sangakkara told reporters at academy ground on Saturday. ‘I have played with a lot of these players, so I think we are going to have a really good fun time here,’ said the Sri Lankan. ‘The first day of practice we have got almost the full squad here, we have got a very good squad as well with some good local players,’ he said. Sangakkara had bundle of praise for left-arm pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman and said he expects that he will be equally fatal in the Twenty20 tournament. 

‘I have actually watched his debut series when he took 13 wickets in the three one-dayers,’ said Sangakkara. ‘He is exceptional and an outstanding young cricketer. He seems to enjoy what he is doing with a smile about him. ‘So he is going to be special for us and so are the other players. I am just looking forward to play with them,’ he said. Dynamites had a setback when their Zimbabwean Malcom Wallar was struck during the training on Saturday and needed six stitches on his eyebrow. 

Victorians will also miss their young fast bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who injured his thumb during training on Thursday and ruled out for seven days.