BPL players' draft 2023 held

 
The most-anticipated players' draft of the cash-strapped 9th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 between the seven franchises took place at a City Hotel on Wednesday.

Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board revealed the names of the local players who got the direct contracts with Chattogram Challengers signed up Afif Hossain, Cumilla Victorians roped in Mustafiuzur Rahman, Dhaka Dominators bagged Taskin Ahmed while Fortune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Rangpur Riders and Sylhet Strikers signed up Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza respectively.

Therefore, all eyes were on Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah in the day's players' draft as all three cricketers in the 'A' category of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) players' draft are expected to be the franchises' first choice. The price of the Category A player was Tk. 80 lakh.

Defending Champion Comilla Victorians following the direct signing of pacer Mustafizur Rahman, strengthened their squad by retaining inform batter Litton Das. Liton played for Comilla in last edition but he was not directly signed up any team.

However, Comilla grabbed Litton from players' draft in their very fast call. Comilla also had players like Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, opener  Mohammad Rizwan and so many local stars.

"Liton played for us earlier and but we have picked Mustafizur (as direct signing) as we wanted to make sure that our bowling strength is not compromised. In that sense you can say we are lucky to have the first call and get Liton," COmilla Victorians head coach Mohammad Salahuddin said during the draft.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's team Sylhet Strikers picked veteran wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim while Shakib's Fortune Barisal roped in veteran Mahmudullah Riyad.

But former Test captain Mominul  Haque was ignored as none of the seven teams showed their interest to rope him in.

The ninth edition of the BPL is scheduled to begin on January 6 next year.

Squads

Dhaka Dominators

Direct Signing: Taskin Ahmed, Chamika Karunratne, Dilshan Munaweera.

From Draft: Mohammad Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, Shoriful Islam, Arafat Sunny, Nasir Hossain, Al Amin Hossain, Shan Masud, Ahmad Shazad, Alok Kapali, Monir Hossain Khan, Ariful Haque, Muktar Ali, Mizanur Rahman, Delwar Hossain, Usman Gani, Slaman Ershad.

Chattogram Challengers:

Direct Signing: Afif Hossain, Vishwa Fernando, Ashan Praiyanjan, Curtis Campher, From Draft: Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Shuvagata Hom, Mehedy Hasan Rana, Mehedy Maruf, Ziaur Rahman, Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd, Unmukt Chand, Taijul Islam, Abu Zayed Rahi, Forhad Reza, Tawfiq Khan Tushar.

Fortune Barishal:

Direct Signing: Shakib Al Hasan, Ifthekhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim, Ibrahim Jadran, Karim Janat, Usman Kadir, Rakheem Cornwall, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kusal Perera

From Draft: Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, Hayder Ali, Chaturanga De Silva, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Saif Hasan, Kazi Anik, Snjamul Islam, Salman Hossain.

Khulna Tigers:

Direct Signing: Tamim Iqbal, Avishka Fernando, Wahab Riaz, Naseem Shah, Azam Khan.
From Draft: Mohammd Siafuddin, Yasir Ali Chowdury, Nasum Ahmed, Nahidul Islam, Munim Shariar, Sabbir Rahman, Dashun Sanaka, Paul Van Meekreen, Shafiqul Islam, Pritom Kumer, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy.

Sylhet Strikers:

Direct Signing: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Haris, Rayan Burl, Kamindu Mendis, Thisra Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Colin Ackermann

From Draft: Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Nabil Samad, Towhid Hridoy, Rubel Hossain, Tom Moors, Gulbadin Naib, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Islam Apu, Akbar Ali, Md. Shofullah, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Comilla Victorians:

Direct Signing: Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Khusdil Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Abrar Ahmed, Joshua Cobb, Brandon King

From Draft: Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Imrul Kayes, Md. Ashiqur Zaman, Jaker Ali Anik, Shaun Williams, Chadwik Wlaton, Md Saikat Ali, Abu Haider Rony, Nayeem Hasan, Md. Mukidul Islam Mugdho, Mahidul Islam Ankon,

Rangpur Riders:

Direct Signing: Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shoaib Malik, Pathum Nissanka, Haris Rouf, Mohamamd Nawaz, Jefry Vandersay, Sikandar Raza,
From Draft: Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Rakibul Hasan Jr, Md. Shamim Hossain Patwary, Ripon Mondol, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aron Jones, Rony Talukder, Pervez Hossaim Imon, Robiul Haque, Alauddin Babu.