The Rangpur Riders will begin their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) campaign without Soumya Sarkar, who suffered an untimely injury during the West Indies tour. Soumya, who was in sublime form and instrumental in Rangpur's Global Super League triumph, will miss the initial matches of the tournament. This development has left the team's management, especially head coach Mickey Arthur, deeply disappointed.

Mickey Arthur couldn’t hide his frustration over Soumya Sarkar’s absence, calling the left-handed opener a "great player." "Unfortunately, we won’t have Soumya for the first part of the BPL. He was in fantastic form during the Global Super League, and it was delightful to see him carry that into the West Indies. He is a great player, and missing him is undoubtedly disappointing," Arthur remarked.

While Soumya is expected to return in the latter stages of the tournament, Rangpur will need to rely on alternatives to fill the void.

In Soumya’s stead, Rangpur is banking on a mix of experienced and promising overseas players. Proven performer Alex Hales will spearhead the opening duties, supported by Steven Taylor from the USA and Sediqullah Atal from Afghanistan. Arthur believes this trio can shoulder the responsibility effectively.

"This opens up opportunities for others. We have two excellent foreign openers, Taylor and Hales, who can take the responsibility. Atal from Afghanistan will also join us. Still, having Soumya from the start would have been ideal," Arthur explained.

Despite the setback, Arthur is confident in the squad’s capabilities and aims to secure a spot in the playoffs. He expressed trust in the players and their potential to bring the title home.

"I know these players and their talent. If we play to our strengths, we’ll be very hard to beat. The first goal is to secure a place in the top four," Arthur concluded.