Shakib Al Hasan has joined Chittagong Kings for the upcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League. Last year, Shakib had signed a two-year deal with Rangpur Riders but later both parties parted ways on mutual understanding to help Kings bring him in as a direct signing.
Fortune Barishal selected Rishad Hossain, but this was only after 40 other cricketers had already been picked by the franchises. Perhaps, the franchises were hesitant to pick Rishad as his availability is slightly unclear after Hobart Hurricane picked him for this season’s Big Bash League. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was also a late signing, with Barishal again bringing him in.
Mashrafe Mortaza being placed in Group B led to a few raised eyebrows considering he did not perform well in the last edition. However, he was picked by Sylhet Strikers for whom he appeared in the last two editions of BPL.
There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the player draft which eventually took place in Dhaka on Monday (October 14). BCB president Faruque Ahmed was pleased that the draft took place.
“We were all in a lot of uncertainty. I wasn’t even sure how many teams would participate. It took a lot of hard work. My BPL team also worked on it. Now, we’ve held the draft. With two and a half months left until the main tournament, I’m confident the teams will be able to further strengthen their squads,” said Faruque.
“Most teams still have some spots to fill. So far, we’ve conducted the draft as planned, though it was delayed once. Given that, I wouldn’t say it’s been too bad,” he said. “There are seven teams. We are trying many new things. It won’t be 100 percent perfect but it will be better than before.”
Faruque also said the focus will be on providing good batting pitches for the BPL. “This time, our utmost effort will be to ensure good batting wickets where bowlers will be respected if they bowl well. I believe the wickets weren’t too bad in the last tournament either. Runs were low in the daytime matches. This time, we will try to make T20 cricket more enjoyable.”
The BPL teams can continue to sign players directly till the scheduled tournament start date on December 27. Dhaka Capitals, Chittagong Kings and Durbar Rajshahi are the new franchises in this season while Fortune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Sylhet Strikers and Rangpur Riders are the existing franchises from the last cycle.
Dhaka Capitals
Direct signings: Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzid Hasan Tamim
Foreign direct signings: Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, Amir Hamza, Shahnawaz Dahani and Stephen Eskinazi
From the draft: Liton Kumer Das, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Mukidul Islam, Abu Jayed, Sabbir Rahman, Munim Shahriar, Asif Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Musfik Hasan (local), Saim Ayub and Amir Hamza Hotak (foreign).
Chittagong Kings
Direct signing: Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam
Foreign direct signing: Moeen Ali, Usman Khan, Haider Ali, Angelo Mathews, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Binura Fernando
From the draft: Shamim Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Khaled Ahmed, Aliss Al Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Naeem Islam, Maruf Mridha, Rahatul Ferdous Javed, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Marshall Ayub (local), Graham Clarke and Thomas O’Connell (foreign).
Durbar Rajshahi
Direct signing: Anamul Haque Bijoy
From the draft: Taskin Ahmed, Jishan Alam, Yasir Ali, Sabbir Hossen, Sanjamul Islam, SM Meherob Hasan, Akbar Ali, Hasan Murad, Md. Shafiul Islam, Mohor Sheikh (local), Saad Nasim and Lahiru Samarakoon (foreign).
Fortune Barishal
Direct signing: Towhid Hridoy
Retained players: Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim
Foreign direct signing: Kyle Mayers, Dawid Malan, Mohammad Nabi, Faheem Ashraf, Ali Mohammad, Jahandad Khan
From the draft: Mahmudullah, Tanvir Islam, Najmul Hossain, Ripon Mondol, Ebadot Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shohidul Islam, Ariful Islam (local), James Fuller, Pathum Nissanka and Nandre Burger (foreign)
Sylhet Strikers
Direct signing: Jaker Ali Anik
Retained players: Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Zakir Hasan
Foreign direct signing: Paul Stirling and George Munsey
From the draft: Rony Talukder, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Ruyel Miah, Ariful Haque, Nihaduzzaman, Nahidul Islam (local), Rahkeem Cornwall, Samiullah Shinwari and Reece Topley (foreign).
Khulna Tigers
Direct signing: Mehidy Hasan
Retained players: Afif Hossain and Nasum Ahmed
Foreign direct signing: Oshane Thomas
From the draft: Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Naim, Imrul Kayes, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Abu Hider Rony, Ziaur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (local), Mohammad Hasnain, Lewis Gregory and Mohammad Nawaz (foreign).
Rangpur Riders
Direct signing: Mohammad Saifuddin
Retained players: Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mahedi Hasan
Foreign direct signing: Alex Hales, Khushdil Shah, Allah Ghazanfar, Steven Taylor and Saurabh Netravalkar
From the draft: Nahid Rana, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Irfan Sukkur, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Tawfique Khan Tushar (local), Akif Javed and Curtis Campher (foreign).
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