Cream of the crop set for battle

The excitement of the Dhaka Premier League will be ramped up as the top six clubs, with very little separating them in the points table, resume battle as the Super League gets underway from today.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium in Mirpur, table-toppers Abahani Limited have been clinical in the 12-team first and will hope to continue in that vein when they take on defending champions Gazi Group Cricketers, who scraped through to the Super League at the last moment after a disappointing start to the tournament.

Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been instrumental behind Abahani's success during the league phase as the right-arm pacer sits top of the wicket-takers' list with 30 wickets in 11 games at a spectacular average of 13.26 and economy rate of 4.38.

His best figures of six for 44 came against Agrani Bank on March 6, when he bagged four wickets in four consecutive deliveries in the over of the tournament with the batting side required 13 runs off six balls.

Abahani's Nazmul Hossain struck a magnificent unbeaten 150 off just 120 balls in the last group stage game against Shinepukur Cricket Club to post a huge total of 335 for four and the left-hander will be oozing confidence alongside in-form openers Anamul Haque and Saif Hasan, while skipper Nasir Hossain also had some good outings with the bat.

"In the Super League stage each team will have to play five games where we are leading at the moment and we have to at least win four of those. I believe even if we are able to execute 80 per cent of our full effort we will be able to become champions," Abahani pacer Taskin Ahmed told reporters at the Academy ground in Mirpur yesterday.

With eight wins in 11 games Abahani lead the table with 14 points while Gazi, with six wins, have 12 points.

Gazi will look to continue the momentum gained from the latter stage of the league after a disappointing start and Mominul Haque, who has just one fifty from 11 games, will have to step up. Young off-spinner Nayeem Hassan, on the other hand, has bowled well to pick up 20 wickets at an economy rate of 4.07 and will be a crucial weapon.

At the BKSP in Savar, Legends of Rupganj -- in second place with 14 points -- will take on fifth-placed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club who have 12 points.

Rupganj's batsmen are in terrific form. Opener Abdul Mazid is the top scorer among Bangladeshi players with 536 runs in 11 games at an average of 53.60, a tally exceeded only by Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity's Indian recruit Ashok Menaria, who has 570 runs.

Rupganj skipper, the experienced Nayeem Islam, stands in third position with 529 runs. Tigers' wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim's inclusion will also help Rupganj's fight for the championship.

Sheikh Jamal will bank on the experienced spin bowling department with the likes of Tanbir Hayder, Elias Sunny, Sohag Gazi and Nazmul Islam expected to play a crucial role. Opener Shykat Ali and skipper Nurul Hasan will have to take responsibility with the bat.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, the surprise package of the ongoing DPL -- Khelaghar on 14 points -- will once more look to surprise. They will look to their in-form Indian recruit Menaria, as well as opener Robiul Islam, against Forhad Reza's Prime Dowleshwar Sporting Club, who are a point behind on 13.