Mohammedan Sporting Club has organized jersey unveiling and player introduction ceremony for the last two-three years. Rumor has it, because the country’s top star Shakib Al Hasan and some other national star cricketers were there, Mohammedan’s owners held a lavish ceremony in a five-star hotel to get media mileage.
Shakib, the country’s number one cricketer and the world’s best all-rounder of an era, is not in Mohammedan. Sheikh Jamal has switched teams to Dhanmondi Club.
With Shakib out, Jolus miss out on Mohammedan’s jersey unveiling ceremony. Officials are not present in the event. In a simple ceremony, the white and black team unveiled the jersey.
But the 2021 jersey unveiling and cricketer introduction ceremony was a surprise. Along with the three members of ‘Panch-Pandvar’ Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, a bunch of stars like Soumya Sarkar, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed joined the black and white camp that season. Joining Mohammedan on paper, they were at the jersey unveiling.
Shakib and Mushfiq also spoke on the occasion. Mushfiqur was officially announced as the captain at that event. Mushfiqur spoke to the journalists present as the captain of Mohammedan.
But in the end Shakib, Mushfiq, Miraj and Taskin did not take the field for Mohammedan. How will it happen? He was then in 3 formats in the Bangladesh team!
Shakib, Mushfiq, Taskin and Miraj were busy playing for the national team even before the start of the Premier League that year. It was said that they will join the team by going to the Super League. Means will play the Super League for the black and white camp. But in the end Mohammedan Super League could not play.
Later, Shakib, Mushfiq and Miraz were compromised and Mohammedan allowed them to play in other teams. Top star Shakib plays for Legends of Rupganj in Super League. And Mushfiq and Miraz took part for Sheikh Jamal. Due to injury, Taskin did not play in the Premier League that season.
Almost the same situation in last season’s league. In this event, the traditional Mohammedan unveiled the jersey with much fanfare. A bunch of stars including Shakib, Mahmudullah, Soumya, Imrul Kayes, Roni Talukdar are in Mohammedan.
As usual, the jersey unveiling ceremony was completed again in a very stylish ceremony. The presence of officials there was noticeable. Coincidentally, despite being one of the best teams on paper, Mohammedan cricketers could not match themselves on the field. Somehow they became the 6th team in the Super League.
Whether it is because of the bitter experience of the past, or because of the absence of Shakib, Mohammedan does not have the same grandeur in the jersey unveiling and player introduction ceremony.
Only one official met the new head coach Mizanur Rahman Babul, manager Sajjad Ahmed Shipon, assistant coach Ashiq Anwar. He is Tariqul Islam Titu, the companion of three eras of Mohammedan.
Mohammedan’s photo shoot in green and black jersey under the open sky in Shere Bengal indoor after practice on Monday afternoon. The two top stars of the team, Mahmudullah and Miraj, are busy in the national team’s ODI series. Mohammedan will have to play a large part of the first league without them.
As Mahmudullah is not in the Test team, he will get a chance to play the last 2-3 matches of the Robin League after the ODI series with Sri Lanka. And Mirage, a regular member of the Test team, will not be able to play for Mohammedan until the end of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
So Mohammedan will have to play a major part of the Robin League with Imrul Kayes, Rony Talukder, marginal Nawraj Nabil, Mahidul Islam drawing, Ariful Islam (cricketer who participated in the Youth World Cup), senior Ariful, Naeem Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Abu Haider Rony, Mushfiq Hasan and Kamrul Islam. Rabbis are the hope of Mohammedans.
New coach Mizanur Rahman Babul, however, expressed hope to do well with this team. The voice of captain Imrul Kayes is also a message of hope. Imrul thinks that they were not the number one team on paper in the event in which Sheikh Jamal won the championship. The league title was won by playing well on the field. Imrul expects the same from Mohammedan this time.
The coach and captain feel that the Mohammedan line-up is good, not bad. Captain Imrul wants to confirm Super League first.
The lineup has three established top-order players like Imrul, Rony Talukder and the marginal Nowroz Nabil. But apart from Mahmudullah and Miraj, there is no such experienced and tested batsman to hold the reins in the middle order. Wicketkeeper Batter Ankon and youngster Ariful Islam are their only hope. If the top order fails, who will take the lead of Mohammedan? How far can Mohammedan go with this team?
Mohammedan’s Dhaka Premier League journey begins tomorrow (Tuesday) with a match against City Club at BKSP. Millions of fans will be fulfilled this time? Or Mohammedan will fall in that cycle of failure, that is to be seen now.
ARB/MH/MMR/MS
#Mohammedan #jersey #unveiling #festival
