Veteran cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim joined Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad as the Fortune Barishal picked him up after getting the chance to call first at the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Players' Draft, held today at a local hotel in the city.
Mushfiqur was the only player in Category A for local players, the top category amongst the six categories, with price tag of BDT 80 lakh.
Tamim joined Barishal from Khulna Tigers while Mahmdullah was their retained player. There was a lottery system which determined which team will call first and Barishal's was the No. 3 team to call.
However, Rangpur Riders was the first team to call a player but they roped in Rony Talukdar. Riders, earlier, acquired Shakib Al Hasan on direct signing and retained most of the players who played for the team in the last season.
Pakistan Captain Babar Azam will also play for Riders in this season.
The current runners-up Sylhet Strikers were the second team to call their player and they recruited Mohammad Mithun.
So, Mushfiqur who was denied twice got a team in the third bid when Barishal called him.
The Category B, with price tag of BDT 50 lakh, comprised the players like Imrul Kayes, Ebadot Hossain, Rony Talukdar and Afif Hossain.
Kayes led Cumilla Victorians to the BPL title thrice including the last time, to emulate most successful BPL captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. But while Mashrafe was retained by Sylhet Strikers, Kayes received another fate.
Cumilla didn't retain him and though they picked him up from the draft, they did it at the last moment.
Cumilla, however, are a star studded side with the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Sunil Narine, Towhid Hridoy, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Johnson Charles, Nur Ahmed, Nasim Shah and Rashid Khan playing for the team once again.
Ebadot, however, didn't get any tea knee injury. Khulna Tigers obtained Afif from Category B.
The likes of Mominul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful and Sabbir Rahman were the notable names who were not picked up by any team.
Cumilla Victorians
Retained and Direct Signing: Liton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanvir Islam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sunil Narine, Towhid Hridoy, Moeen Ali Andre Russell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Zaman Khan, Khushdil Shah, Johnson Charles, Nur Ahmed, Nasim Shah and Rashid Khan
From Draft: Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Jaker Ali Anik, Mahidul Islam Ankan, Rishad Hossain, Rahkeem Cornwall, Matthew Walter Ford, Imrul Kayes, Musfik Hasan and Anamul Haque
Durdanto Dhaka
Retained and Direct Signing: Taskin Ahmed, Arafat Sunny, Shoriful Islam, Mosaddek Hossain, Chaturanga de Silva, Siyam Ayub and Osman Qadir.
From Draft: Saif Hassan, Irfan Shukkur, Alauddin Babu, Mehrob Hossain, Lahiru Samarakun, Samira Samawickrama, Naim Sheikh, Sabbir Hosen and Jasimuddin.
Chattogram Challengers
Retained and Direct Signing: Shuvagata Hom, Ziaur Rahman, Nihaduzzman, Shohidul Islam, Mohammad Haris, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Hasnain and Steven Eskandi
From Draft: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Al Amin Hossain, Shykat Ali, Imranuzzman, Curtis Campher, Bilal Khan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Salahuddin Shakil.
Khulna Tigers
Retained and Direct Signing: Nasum Ahmed, Nahidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan, Enamul Haque, Evin Lewis, Fahim Ashraf, Dhananjaya de Silva, Shai Hope, and Wasim Junior
From Draft: Afif Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka, Mukidul Islam Mugdho, Akbar Ali and Sumon Khan.
Rangpur Riders
Retained and Direct Signing: Nuru Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nicholas Pooran, Shakib Al Hasan, Babar Azam, Ehsanullah, Matheesha Pathirana, Brandon King and Wanindu Hasaranga
From Draft: Rony Talukdar, Shamim Patwari, Ripon MOndal, Hasan Murad, Michel Ripon, Yasir Mohammad, Abu Haider Rony, Fazle Rabbi and Ashikuzzman.
Fortune Barishal
Retained and Direct Signing: Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ibrahim Zadran, Tamim Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Paul Stirling, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi and Dunith Wallalage.
From Draft: Mushfiqur Rahim, Roqibul Hasan, Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar, Yannic Cariah, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Pritom Kumar, Taijul Islam, Prantik Nowroze Nabil and Dinesh Chandimal
Sylhet Strikers
Retained and Direct Signing: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Zakir Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Ryan Burl, Ben Cutting and Harry Tector.
From Draft: Mohammad Mithun, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Ariful Haque, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Richard Ngarava, Dushon Hemantha, Najmul Islam Apu, Shofiqul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Jawad Rowen and Salman Hossain Emon.
