Sports Desk:

Rangpur will take on Dhaka Metro in the final of the inaugural NCL T20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

The anticipated final of the country’s only domestic T20 tournament will begin at 12:30pm and T Sports will live televise the game.

Rangpur sealed their spot in the final by winning Qualifier-1 by four wickets against Metro.

Followed that, Metro had another opportunity to make it to the grand finale, and they rebounded by defeating Khulna in the Qualifier-2 by 38 runs on Sunday.

Metro were at the top of the points table at the end of the first phase after winning all seven matches. Rangpur were in second with five victories.

Metro captain Naim Sheikh said he was unfazed about the game and put weight behind his players to clinch the title.

However, he mentioned that his side won’t take Rangpur lightly.

‘I haven›t thought about playing under pressure. Right from the start of the tournament, I told the team that we would take it one match at a time,’ Naim told reporters at the pre-final press conference in Sylhet on Sunday.

‘There are 6-7 players who have been man of the match. Each one has performed well on different days. There are no small teams or big teams in T20; those who perform well on the field will reap the rewards.’

Meanwhile, Rangpur captain Akbar Ali believes they must be at their best to beat Metro in the final.

‘Metro has been performing exceptionally well, having lost just one match throughout the tournament. We must do our best if we want to win,’ said. Akbar

The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced Tk 20 lakh along with a trophy as a reward for the champions, while the runners-up will get Tk 10 lakh.

The player of the tournament will receive Tk 100,000, and the best batter and bowler will be rewarded with Tk 50,000 each.

Naim, who is the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 316 runs at a strike rate of 136.80 in nine matches, said that he is trying his best as a player and captain to win the title.

‘No matter what situation arises on the field, I am trying my best as a top-order batter. As the team leader, I have a responsibility, and I am fulfilling that. I am making an effort to give my best on the field.

Ahmed Sharif of Chittagong leads the race for the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets, followed by Rangpur›s Alauddin Babu with 16 wickets and Metro›s Rakibul Hasan with 14 wickets.