Rangpur Riders triumphed in the Global Super League (GSL) final on December 6, defeating Victoria by an impressive margin of 56 runs in Providence, Guyana.
The victory capped a dramatic series of events leading up to the final, as uncertainty hung over the participation of key players due to their national roles with Bangladesh.
The final match, initially scheduled for December 7, was brought forward by the GSL to avoid a clash with Bangladesh’s upcoming ODI series against the West Indies.
This rescheduling created complications for Rangpur as three of their star players – Rishad Hossain, Afif Hossain and Soumya Sarkar – were also part of Bangladesh’s ODI squad.
Despite the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) denying an extension to Soumya and Rishad’s NOCs (No Objection Certificates), Afif was allowed to play due to his NOC valid until December 7.
After an intense period of negotiations and uncertainty, Rangpur was given the green light to field all three players, and the final took place as scheduled.
The Riders put in an impressive performance, scoring 178 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs.
Soumya led the attack with an explosive 86 off 54 balls while Steven Taylor contributed a vital 68 off 49 balls, helping his team set a challenging target for Victoria.
In response, Victoria’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure as they were bowled out for just 122 in 18.1 overs.
The Rangpur bowlers made the most of the situation, ensuring that the final result was never in doubt.
Controversy surrounding players’ availability sparked fears that Rangpur could lose the match.
A statement from the franchise warned that the withdrawal of the three players could result in them missing the final, a result that would have severely impacted Bangladesh cricket’s reputation on the global stage.
Rangpur’s fears increased as the team was already without Khushdil Shah, whose NOC from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had expired.
Additionally, Matthew Forde was absent from the tournament due to injury.
Ultimately, the resolute decision to allow the players to participate in the final was a moment of relief for Rangpur, and their victory solidified their place as GSL champions.
