‘Winning the title on final day will give us great joy’

Dhaka Premier League table-toppers Abahani Limited lineup are made up of players who feature quite regularly in the Bangladesh national team. With one round of matches to go tomorrow, the team are on the verge of winning the title this season, but there are still a few equations to be sorted out.

With 22 points in 15 games Abahani will take on Legends of Rupganj, who along with Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are on 20 points heading into the last Super League round of games on April 5.

If Abahani manages to win the last game then they will be champions but if they lose the game against Rupganj and Sheikh Jamal manages to beat Khelaghar in their last game, then Sheikh Jamal will become champions by virtue of having the most wins in head-to-head games between the three teams that will be tied on 22 points. They have a 1-1 head-to-head record against Abahani and have beaten Rupganj in both their battles.

For Rupganj, who have a 0-1 head-to-head with Abahani, to win the title Sheikh Jamal will have to lose to Khelaghar and Rupganj will have to beat Abahani by a big enough margin to overtake their opponent's net run rate.

Mehedi Hasan Miraz said as much when asked about Abahani's chances in the match.

"Whoever will play well will win the match. I think it will be a good game and we are serious about winning the match tomorrow and if we can do that we will become champions," he said.

However, he reminded that winning and losing is part of the game, perhaps knowing in the back of his mind that a loss can easily snatch the title away from their grasp.

"At the end of the day, it is a game. Wins and losses are part of it. But we will give our hundred per cent."

Despite the presence of national team players in the squad, Abahani are on the verge of winning the title on the last day, which will be a very satisfying outcome for Mehedi simply because the other teams played well.

"Everyone is giving their hundred per cent and even then the other teams have played well," Mehedi said.

"The thing is that it is very important to win tomorrow's match. Winning the title on the last day will give us great joy," he remarked.