Defending champions of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL) Abahani and their arch-rival Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) are all set to test each other in the league today (Monday), reports UNB.
The match will take place at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at 09:00 am.
Both of the teams have lost the last match. While Abahani was beaten by Prime Bank Cricket Club, Mohammedan lost to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.
So they are heading to the next match keeping a win in mind.
Before losing the fifth round to Prime Bank, Abahani won all of their first four rounds matches.
On the other hand, Mohammedan was on the winning streak before losing last two matches to Legends of Rupganj and Sheikh Jamal respectively.
However, Manjurul Islam, the coach of Mohammedan, believes they should not look back before the important clash against arch-rival Abahani.
"It will not bring something good for the team to look back. We had been playing well before the last two matches.
But today's (Monday) clash will set the tune for us. At the same time, that will be a big challenge for us as well.
I think the previous matches will not create any problem for us," Manjurul said on Sunday while conducting a practice session of Mohammedan.
In the last season of Dhaka League, Mohammedan lost to Abahani by a big margin of 112 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had taken three wickets each for Abahani to wrap up Mohammedan for 147 while chasing the target of 160 in 50 overs.
But Manjurul Islam looked reluctant to remember that encounter. He said the year of 2019 will be a big year of Mohammedan.
"We are a professional team. We are looking forward to the coming days.
I can say you that the year of 2019 will be a big one for Mohammedan.
If we can maintain professionalism in the next game, it will be different from the previous matches.
It is a big chance for all of us in Mohammedan," Manjurul further said.
In this game, Mohammedan set to get the service of Liton Das. The right-handed top-order batsman of Bangladesh was out of action after coming back from New Zealand.
He was seen to practice on Sunday with the team.
However, Abahani captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat is not bothered with the strength of the opponent. He rather is thinking about their own strength and strategy.
"The clash between Abahani and Mohammedan is always a tough one. We are ready for the challenge of the next game. Mohammedan is really a challenging opponent. At the same time, we are also in a position to win games against them.
Instead of focusing on them, we are ready to show our strength in the next game," Mosaddek told the media.
While Abahani will take on Mohammedan in Mirpur, Sheikh Jamal will face Gazi Group Cricketers in Fatullah and Legends of Rupganj will lock horn against Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity at BKSP.
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