Confident Warner wants to lead from the front

David Warner, the flamboyant left-handed opener, has come to Bangladesh to take part in the Bangladesh Premier League for Sylhet Sixers. 

The tournament has lit up this year with the big names of world cricket like AB de Villiers, Alex Hales (both at Rangpur Riders) and Steven Smith (Comilla Victorians), among others. 

Warner is a superstar in the cricket arena, and he will lead the Sixers as they bid to clinch the crown this season.

The former Australia vice-captain expressed delight at getting the opportunity to make his mark in the BPL with Sylhet.

The stage is all set for the curtain-raiser of the Bangladesh Premier League as defending champion @ridersofhope will face @CtgVikings in the tournament opener in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Saturday.https://t.co/30HfBefBdQ#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #CRICKET

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 4, 2019

He has vowed to perform well and lead from the front as the captain of the side. 

“I am very excited to be here, and to be a part of it. I was having a conversation with our head coach Waqar (Younis) about playing club cricket in Australia at the moment where wickets are quite low and slow. It’s tough to adapt with these conditions, but I had a very good run of form at home. And I think having played here in Dhaka and Chittagong before, I know how the wickets will be like. For me it’s going to be in rhythm and routine and making sure I am going to lead from the front,” said Warner during a press conference in Dhaka Thursday.  

The last nine months was a roller-coaster for Warner as he is currently serving a 12-month ban (passed nine months already) imposed by Cricket Australia in March, 2018, for his involvement in ball-tampering in the controversy known as “Sandpapergate Scandal” during Australia’s tour of South Africa. 

But Warner believes such tough times will help him to become a better human being. 

Mohammad Ashraful, once the poster boy of @BCBtigers cricket, is returning to the Bangladesh Premier League’s sixth season after serving five-year ban for his involvement in match-fixing in 2013.https://t.co/NqL8uDjjNV#BCBTIGERS #TIGERS #BCB #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #ASHRAFUL #BPL

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 4, 2019

He informed that it’s time to play some good cricket, and that he is rearing to go and score runs for the Sixers. 

“Look for me, life was good in the last few months. I have been spending time at home with family. I would not be able to do that If I wasn’t sitting on the sidelines. But for me, it’s about getting the best out of me, and growing as a good human being. But my most important thing was to become a father at home, and a husband. Now it’s down to playing cricket again and put the Sixers at the top of the table,” Warner added. 

During his ban, Warner took part in the Global T20 League in Canada and the Caribbean Premier League.  

With the World Cup 2019 looming (in England and Wales) the BPL could prove to be an important platform for Warner to get back his form and confidence in order to be included in the squad right after his ban. 

Ahead of their first match of the sixth edition against defending champion @ridersofhope the @khulnatitans trained in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Thursday morning where all the local players and five foreign cricketers were presenthttps://t.co/BPhkAf77Fh#BCB

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 3, 2019

When asked about his World Cup target, the opening batsman gave the answer with a straight bat - his job is to score runs, and he is focusing on just that.  

“It’s upto the selectors whether they are going to pick me. At the end of the day, I can score runs and that’s what I can do; keep putting my hand, make sure I can be the best person and making sure I am going to do my job for Sylhet,” Warner concluded. 

Warner has scored 7,888 runs so far in 252 T20s with an average of 35.21 and strike rate of 142.40. 

Under his captaincy, Sunrisers Hyderabad won the Indian Premier League in the 2016 season.