'Media focuses more on BPL performances'

There are many reasons behind the clamouring for performances from local domestic cricketers in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Not least among those is that it provides a feel-good factor for the home audience when players plying their trade in domestic cricket can rub shoulders with international superstars and excel in the process.

Yesterday, with Khulna Titans pacer Abu Jayed and batsman Ariful Haque both recording career-best performances against Chittagong Vikings, was the first time this edition that local journeymen came to the fore. Another reason, albeit less obvious, to want local excellence is that it throws up a refreshing twist when someone not all that familiar is in the spotlight, as player-of-the-match Abu Jayed was for his figures of four for 35 yesterday.

"I think it was a little expensive, but it was good to take four because we won the match," said Jayed after the match ended in an 18-run win for Khulna, a path that was set by Jayed's two-wicket burst in the first over to get rid of opener Luke Ronchi and Soumya Sarkar. "The plan was to bowl in the right area and try to swing it if there was movement on offer, to bowl on one side of the wicket."

Apart from the aforementioned reasons, the most important one from the local players' perspective was pointed out by the 24-year-old.

"I have performed in the National [Cricket] League as well, but the media coverage is a little less for the national league," said Jayed, who has an impressive average of 27 in first-class cricket and an even more commendable strike rate of 47. He then added with a smile: "If I perform here, then it comes up in the media and also on social media. Everyone watches it, so it feels good to perform in the BPL."

A Sylhet native, Jayed did not have too happy a time in the Sylhet leg of the BPL. As mentioned, his explanation for the less than stellar performance was not something you would find in press conferences of the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Luke Ronchi, Misbahul Haq or even Bangladesh internationals Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib AL Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

"To tell the truth, in Sylhet there was a bit of home pressure," said Jayed, before explaining what he meant with a mischievous grin. "There was a lot of pressure for tickets. I was out of tickets in no time. Maybe that is why."