The second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in 2013 built on the success of its inaugural season. With seven franchises, this season was packed with excitement, intense competition, and standout performances. The tournament began on January 18, 2013, and ended with a thrilling final on February 19, 2013.
Here’s a detailed look at the group stage, playoffs, and the final.
Group Stage
The group stage in BPL 2013 saw each team playing 12 matches in a round-robin format. Dhaka Gladiators and Sylhet Royals both finished with 18 points from 12 games, winning 9 matches each. However, Dhaka Gladiators finished top of the table due to a superior net run rate of +0.928, while Sylhet Royals had an NRR of +0.081.
Chittagong Kings followed closely with 12 points, while the remaining teams — Duronto Rajshahi, Rangpur Riders, Barisal Burners, and Khulna Royal Bengals — all finished with 10 points. Despite having the same number of wins, the teams ranked differently based on their net run rate. Khulna Royal Bengals finished last with just 6 points.
Here’s a look at the group stage standings:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhaka Gladiators | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | +0.928 |
| 2 | Sylhet Royals | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | +0.081 |
| 3 | Chittagong Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | +1.170 |
| 4 | Duronto Rajshahi | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | −0.557 |
| 5 | Rangpur Riders | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | −0.506 |
| 6 | Barisal Burners | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | −0.040 |
| 7 | Khulna Royal Bengals | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | −1.056 |
The top four teams, Dhaka Gladiators, Sylhet Royals, Chittagong Kings, and Duronto Rajshahi, advanced to the playoffs, while Rangpur Riders, Barisal Burners, and Khulna Royal Bengals were eliminated.
Bangladesh Premier League 2013 Playoffs
The playoffs were structured as a series of knockout matches, culminating in the final. The format consisted of two qualifiers and one eliminator. The top two teams from the group stage played in Qualifier 1, while the third and fourth-placed teams met in the Eliminator. The winners of Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator then faced off in Qualifier 2 to determine the second finalist.
Qualifier 1
In Qualifier 1, Dhaka Gladiators, the group-stage leaders, took on Sylhet Royals. Dhaka posted a challenging total of 197/9. Sylhet Royals fought hard but fell short, ending their innings at 193/6, giving Dhaka Gladiators a 4-run victory. This win sent Dhaka straight to the final.
| Qualifier 1 | Dhaka Gladiators | 197/9 | Defeated | Sylhet Royals | 193/6 |
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Eliminator
In the Eliminator, Chittagong Kings faced Duronto Rajshahi in a must-win encounter. Chittagong Kings put up a modest total of 108/6, which Duronto Rajshahi was unable to chase, finishing at 107/7. Chittagong Kings won by just 1 run, progressing to Qualifier 2.
| Eliminator | Chittagong Kings | 108/6 | Defeated | Duronto Rajshahi | 107/7 |
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Qualifier 2
In Qualifier 2, Chittagong Kings faced Sylhet Royals for a place in the final. Sylhet Royals posted 149/7, but Chittagong Kings chased it down comfortably, scoring 150/7 to win by 3 wickets and secure a spot in the final.
| Qualifier 2 | Sylhet Royals | 149/7 | Defeated | Chittagong Kings | 150/7 |
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The Final
The final took place on February 19, 2013, between Dhaka Gladiators and Chittagong Kings at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Dhaka Gladiators won the toss and chose to bat first. They posted a challenging total of 172/9 in their 20 overs. Despite a late surge from Chittagong Kings, their chase fell short, and they were bowled out for 129, handing Dhaka Gladiators a comfortable 43-run victory.
Dhaka Gladiators’ win secured them their second consecutive BPL title, cementing their dominance in the early years of the competition. Chittagong Kings, despite putting up a strong fight throughout the season, had to settle for being the runners-up.
| Final | Dhaka Gladiators | 172/9 | Defeated | Chittagong Kings | 129/10 |
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BPL 2013: Top Performers – Most Runs and Most Wickets
The second season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) witnessed some outstanding individual performances with the bat and ball. Here’s a look at the top run-scorers and wicket-takers of BPL 2013.
Most Runs in BPL 2013
Mushfiqur Rahim of Sylhet Royals was the highest run-scorer of the season, amassing 440 runs in 13 innings at an average of 44.00, with a highest score of 86. Close behind him was Ryan ten Doeschate of Chittagong Kings, who scored 432 runs in 12 innings, including an unbeaten 95. Shamsur Rahman of Rangpur Riders followed with 416 runs from 12 innings, with a highest score of 98*.
Brad Hodge, representing Barisal Burners, made 410 runs in 11 innings, with a highest score of 70*. Shahriar Nafees of Khulna Royal Bengals rounded out the top five with 395 runs, including a brilliant 102* in 12 innings.
| Player | Team | Runs | Inns | Highest Score (HS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mushfiqur Rahim | Sylhet Royals | 440 | 13 | 86 |
| Ryan ten Doeschate | Chittagong Kings | 432 | 12 | 95* |
| Shamsur Rahman | Rangpur Riders | 416 | 12 | 98* |
| Brad Hodge | Barisal Burners | 410 | 11 | 70* |
| Shahriar Nafees | Khulna Royal Bengals | 395 | 12 | 102* |
These batsmen provided some of the most consistent and match-winning performances in the competition, contributing significantly to their teams’ efforts.
Most Wickets in BPL 2013
On the bowling front, Alfonso Thomas of Dhaka Gladiators led the way with 20 wickets in 12 matches, with his best bowling figures being 3/19. Azhar Mahmood of Barisal Burners took 19 wickets in 12 matches, with a remarkable best bowling performance of 3/7.
Enamul Haque Jr. of Chittagong Kings was third on the list, claiming 18 wickets in 15 matches, with his best figures being 3/14. Mohammad Nabi, the all-rounder from Sylhet Royals, also took 18 wickets in 13 matches, with his best performance being 3/27. Mosharraf Hossain of Dhaka Gladiators rounded out the top five with 17 wickets in 12 matches, including an impressive 4/9.
| Player | Team | Wickets | Matches | Best Bowling Figures (BBI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfonso Thomas | Dhaka Gladiators | 20 | 12 | 3/19 |
| Azhar Mahmood | Barisal Burners | 19 | 12 | 3/7 |
| Enamul Haque Jr. | Chittagong Kings | 18 | 15 | 3/14 |
| Mohammad Nabi | Sylhet Royals | 18 | 13 | 3/27 |
| Mosharraf Hossain | Dhaka Gladiators | 17 | 12 | 4/9 |
These bowlers were instrumental in their teams’ success, providing the key breakthroughs and putting up stellar performances throughout the season.
Conclusion
BPL 2013 was an exciting season, filled with high drama, nail-biting finishes, and excellent performances. Dhaka Gladiators proved their supremacy once again, becoming the first team to win back-to-back BPL titles.
With thrilling matches and strong performances, this edition of the BPL continued to capture the imagination of cricket fans, setting the stage for the league’s future growth.