DHAKA, Dec 30, 2024 (BSS)- Emboldened by its success in the Global Super
League, Rangpur Riders brimmed with confidence to win the Bangladesh Premier
League (BPL) title.

Rangpur had to make exit before the BPL final in the last two seasons despite
being heavily favourites to win the title. Two seasons ago, they lost to
Sylhet Strikers and last season, they lost to eventual champions Fortune
Barishal in the second Qualifier.

This season, they won the Global Super League title in the West Indies and
came into the tournament with renewed confidence.

"Rangpur always builds a team to win the title. Those who support Rangpur
have an expectation. So in every tournament in which we play, we have a goal
to become champions," Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan said.

"Of course, this time our target is also to become champions. As I said,
Rangpur always makes a team to become champions. We have played the
qualifiers in the last two seasons but were not able to move to the final. We
will try to overcome that hurdle and go to the next stage."

Shakib Al Hasan was part of the franchise last year. This time, however,
there is no such big star. Nevertheless captain Sohan is quite happy with the
team.

He laid emphasize on playing as a unit to achieve the goal for which they are
craving for.

"The goal is to play as a unit. As a captain, I will try to help the team gel
together as early as possible. We are a team full with allrounders. I would
rather say that we have got a compact team. It's important to play as a
team," he remarked.

Rangpur did not get the service of Soumya Sarkar from the beginning, a thing
that was a great headache for them, considering the hard-hitter batter was in
superb form.

Soumya was the highest run-getter for them in the Global Super League with
188 runs in five matches and also carried his form to the national team
before being injured.

Under-19 team captain Azizul Hakim Tamim was added into the squad to replace
him.

"To be honest, Soumya was in very good form. I saw Azizul Hakim Tamim in his
place in the last NCL, he is in very good shape and batted really well. The
team management will take the decision about the combination after seeing the
wicket tomorrow."