Bangladesh Biman will go into the Cup final of the Corporate Cricket League against GramccnPhonc

fully aware that a pumped-up Mashrafee bin Mortuza can make all the difference between the two sides.

The final clash of the first ever T\venty20 cricket competition in the country will be played under floodlights beginning at 6:30pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Prior to that, Gazi Tank will take on BEXIMCO in defence of their Plate title in the lower-tier competition. The Plate final begins at 1:30pm at the same venue.

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud, who is leading tournament sponsors Grameen-Phonc, said that fast bowler Mashrafee will be a factor in the final withhis all-round abilities.

"Weare a balanced side and hope to lift tire title. But Mashrafee has proved that he has the ability to change the fate of a match singlehandedly," said the diminutive allrounder yesterday in reference to the hard-hitting batting of tire 22-year-old.

Biman skipper Sanwar Hossain, whose side lost the previous meeting between the two in the group stage, also echoed the same sentiment taking into consideration tire youngster's performances in the last few matches.

"The strength of the finalists is almost equal. But we arc concerned about the presence of Mashrafee who is undoubtedly a very good bowler and has been hitting the ball really hard recently," said die middle-orderbatsman.

"We have to get him early," the Biman captain said. Mashrafee has been in tremendous form with the bat in his first competitive tournament after being sidelined due to an injury for more than a year.

Although the tearaway has produced some blazing knocks, there have hardly been any enthusiasm or fireworks in the second edition of the competition that has introduced the 20-overs a-side matches in a bid to spice up domestic cricket.

Both the captains agreed that the tournament has failed to attract the fans as well as failing to present nin feasts as expected.

"I think players have yet to cope with the newly introduced system. But the scenario will be changed if we continue playing it," said Mahmud.

Sanwar added that it would be better to arrange the tournament in the gap between two big domestic competitions.

"It was not the right to arrange such a tournament at the beginning of a season. It would be better if it was held between the Dhaka Premier League and the National Cricket League," Sanwar suggested.