2015 BPL: Muhammad Amir only Pakistani in team of the tournament

The list was released by cricketing website ESPNcricinfo

Tainted left-arm fast-bowler Muhammad Amir was the only Pakistan player named in ESPNcricinfo’s team of the tournament after the conclusion of the 2015 season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Amir, who was representing Chittagong Vikings, claimed 14 wickets in the tournament at an economy rate of 5.56. He was used constantly by his captain Tamim Iqbal to open the bowling as well as bowl in the death overs.

In his first match against Rangpur Riders, Amir bagged four scalps in his four overs giving away 30 runs, including castling Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq with an inch-perfect yorker.





In the second match against Sylhet Superstars, Amir returned figures of 4-0-19-0. He bowled the last over with only nine runs required off it and successfully led his team to victory. In his team’s third encounter against 2015 BPL winners Comilla Victorians, Amir bagged two wickets in his 3.5 overs giving away 27 runs.

In the fifth match against Barisal Bulls, Amir was once again on song and produced figures of 4-0-20-2.



In the return match against Riders, Amir again bowled only twice giving away only seven runs as Chittagong had set a target of 112 only.

Sylhet then faced Chittagong in their seventh match of BPL.  This time Amir bamboozled Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi with his bowling, squaring him up and smashing into his off stump.





Against Comilla, Amir once again was the pick of the bowlers for Chittagong. He gave away 22 runs for his two wickets in four overs.

In his last match for the Vikings, Amir ended his BPL campaign with a bang; four overs, one maiden, 18 runs and three wickets. The wicket tally included another Pakistan skipper, this time a former one, Muhammad Hafeez who had stated earlier that he is ready to face Amir but not willing to play alongside him in the BPL.



Hafeez faced Amir in the fifth over of the match. Hafeez left the first good-length ball which was pitched on off-stump. The second was a shorter delivery outside off again. Hafeez tried to cut it but the bounce beat him. Third time lucky, Hafeez was able to touch the ball with his bat. A delivery on the off stump was defended towards point.

And then came the telling blow. Hafeez tickled an outgoing ball to the keeper and it was curtains for the Professor.





Meanwhile, the only other non-Bangladesh player to be included in the team of the tournament was Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Sangakkara.

2015 BPL XI: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Kumar Sangakkara, Jahurul Islam, Mahmudullah (captain), Ashar Zaidi, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Amir, Abu Hider and Al-Amin Hossain.

Previous teams of the tournament

2012 BPL XI: 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Brad Hodge, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mohammad Ashraful, 7 Azhar Mahmood, 8 Elias Sunny, 9 Mohammad Sami, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza, 11 Enamul Haque jnr

2013 BPL XI: 1 Shamsur Rahman, 2 Brad Hodge, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Shakib Al Hasan, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Ryan ten Doeschate, 7 Azhar Mahmood, 8 Alfonso Thomas, 9 Sohag Gazi, 10 Mosharraf Hossain, 11 Enamul Haque jnr