Shakib Al Hasan has officially joined Chittagong Kings for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. Previously, Shakib had a two-year contract with Rangpur Riders, but both parties mutually agreed to part ways, allowing the Kings to sign him directly.
Fortune Barishal selected Rishad Hossain, but he was chosen only after 40 other players had been picked by various franchises. The hesitancy to pick Rishad earlier could be due to his uncertain availability, as he has commitments with Hobart Hurricane for this season’s Big Bash League. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was also a late addition, brought in by Barishal.
Mashrafe Mortaza’s placement in Group B raised some eyebrows given his lackluster performance in the last BPL edition. Nevertheless, Sylhet Strikers, his team for the past two seasons, decided to pick him again.
The player draft, held in Dhaka on Monday (October 14), was surrounded by uncertainty. BCB President Faruque Ahmed expressed relief that the draft was successfully conducted.
“We faced significant uncertainty. I wasn’t sure how many teams would participate. It required a lot of hard work from my BPL team. Now, with the draft completed and two and a half months until the tournament, I’m confident the teams can strengthen their squads further,” said Faruque.
“While most teams still have spots to fill, we have conducted the draft as planned, despite a slight delay. Considering this, I wouldn’t say it went too badly. We have seven teams and are trying many new things. It won’t be perfect, but it will be better than before.”
Faruque also emphasized the focus on providing good batting pitches for the BPL. “Our goal this time is to ensure good batting wickets where bowlers will be respected if they perform well. I believe the wickets weren’t too bad in the last tournament, though runs were low in daytime matches. This time, we aim to make T20 cricket more enjoyable.”
BPL teams can continue to sign players directly until the tournament’s start date on December 27. Dhaka Capitals, Chittagong Kings, and Durbar Rajshahi are the new franchises this season, while Fortune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Sylhet Strikers, and Rangpur Riders return from the previous cycle.
Squads after BPL Draft
Dhaka Capitals
- Direct signings: Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan Tamim
- Foreign direct signings: Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, Amir Hamza, Shahnawaz Dahani, Stephen Eskinazi
- Draft picks: Liton Kumer Das, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Mukidul Islam, Abu Jayed, Sabbir Rahman, Munim Shahriar, Asif Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Musfik Hasan (local), Saim Ayub, Amir Hamza Hotak (foreign)
Chittagong Kings
- Direct signings: Shakib Al Hasan, Shoriful Islam
- Foreign direct signings: Moeen Ali, Usman Khan, Haider Ali, Angelo Mathews, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Binura Fernando
- Draft picks: 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, Thomas O’Connell (foreign)
Durbar Rajshahi
- Direct signing: Anamul Haque Bijoy
- Draft picks: 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, Lahiru Samarakoon (foreign)
Fortune Barishal
- Direct signing: Towhid Hridoy
- Retained players: Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim
- Foreign direct signings: Kyle Mayers, Dawid Malan, Mohammad Nabi, Faheem Ashraf, Ali Mohammad, Jahandad Khan
- Draft picks: Mahmudullah, Tanvir Islam, Najmul Hossain, Ripon Mondol, Ebadot Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shohidul Islam, Ariful Islam (local), James Fuller, Pathum Nissanka, Nandre Burger (foreign)
Sylhet Strikers
- Direct signing: Jaker Ali Anik
- Retained players: Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Zakir Hasan
- Foreign direct signings: Paul Stirling, George Munsey
- Draft picks: Rony Talukder, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Ruyel Miah, Ariful Haque, Nihaduzzaman, Nahidul Islam (local), Rahkeem Cornwall, Samiullah Shinwari, Reece Topley (foreign)
Khulna Tigers
- Direct signing: Mehidy Hasan
- Retained players: Afif Hossain, Nasum Ahmed
- Foreign direct signing: Oshane Thomas
- Draft picks: 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, Mohammad Nawaz (foreign)
Rangpur Riders
- Direct signing: Mohammad Saifuddin
- Retained players: Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan
- Foreign direct signings: Alex Hales, Khushdil Shah, Allah Ghazanfar, Steven Taylor, Saurabh Netravalkar
- Draft picks: Nahid Rana, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Irfan Sukkur, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Tawfique Khan Tushar (local), Akif Javed, Curtis Campher (foreign)
