Dhaka: Akbar Ali finally found any tournament productive for him after displaying a good performance in the just concluded NCL T20. Along with leading the Rangpur Division to defend the title, he also did well with the willow and with the gloves at hands behind the wicket.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Akbar Ali, the captain of the team that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2020, stood out as a prominent figure in the NCL T20. Only two cricketers, Akbar Ali and Avishek Das, from the XI that played in the Youth World Cup final against India have not yet made their international cricket debut. This edition of NCL T20 has given new hope to both of them. Abhishek returned to the field after being out for five and a half years due to injury, and was also named Man of the Match in one match, while Akbar clinched the Man of the Tournament award.
Akbar showcased his batting prowess by being the second-highest run-getter of the tournament with an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 147.02 in nine matches. Unlike previous tournaments, Akbar played a crucial role in Rangpur's success, contributing significantly to their victories. Although his leadership skills were never in doubt, his performance as a batter and wicket-keeper had not met expectations until this edition of NCL T20.
The Rangpur Division, under Akbar's captaincy, faced early challenges in their title defense but managed to secure a spot in the playoffs as the fourth team, thanks to Akbar's strategic leadership. In a thrilling Eliminator against Dhaka, Akbar's captaincy shone as the team clinched victory by just one wicket. They continued their winning streak by defeating Chattogram by four wickets in Qualifier-2.
The final against Khulna proved to be a comfortable win for Rangpur, who retained the title with an eight-wicket victory, a stark contrast to the tense knockout matches earlier. Akbar, who had also led Rangpur to victory in the inaugural edition of NCL T20, has now guided the team to three championships, including the four-day edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) and two NCL T20 tournaments. Before Akbar's captaincy, Rangpur had never won a championship in their history.