Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed emerged as a standout performer in international cricket in 2024, finishing as the joint third highest wicket-taker across all formats with 63 wickets in 30 matches alongside West Indies' pacer Alzarri Joseph, trailing behind only India's Jasprit Bumrah (86) and Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga (64).

Taskin's stellar form with the ball has carried over into the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as well as he has already taken 12 wickets in four matches – highest among bowlers so far – for Durbar Rajshahi, which included a record-breaking 7-19 against Dhaka Capitals during his side's second game in Dhaka on January 2.

Rajshahi's Zimbabwean all-rounder Ryan Burl was full of praises for Taskin and was glad to have him as his teammate for the first time.

"I'm really enjoying having Taskin on my team now. I mean he has bowled incredibly well in the last four games," Burl told The Daily Star yesterday about Taskin, whom he previously faced as an opponent in international and franchise cricket, getting dismissed to the pacer once in four encounters while playing for the national side.

"It's not just about the last four games. He has had a really good 2024. I think he has been rewarded for it by making it in the Cricinfo [ODI] Team of the Year. Congrats to him. Like I said, it's nice to have him in my team," he added.

However, despite Taskin's brilliant performance, Rajshahi is struggling on the field as a unit, having lost three out of their four matches so far.

Burl, who has previously represented Sylhet Strikers and Chattogram Challengers in the BPL, also has had a mixed campaign so far, making 84 runs in four innings which included a match winning unbeaten 55 off 33 balls against Dhaka. He also has one wicket to his name.

Burl, however, feels that it would be harsh to be too critical of the team so early in the tournament as they still have a good number of matches to go.

"We have played only four matches. So, it's difficult to be too critical of the bowlers. There are still eight games to go. A lot can happen in eight games," he said.

"I think we have been quite good in patches but we haven't been good for 20 overs. We probably have bowled seven or eight good overs and then few loose overs came up. We haven't quite gelled as a unit yet, especially in the bowling department. "But as I have said, it's still four games in the tournament. You got to give the guys a chance, you got to let them come to their own and get some rhythm," said Burl.