Dhaka hog spotlight while Comilla, Barishal possess recipe for success
Written by ABC Audio ALL RIGHTS RESERVED on December 27, 2021
“We always enjoy playing with or playing for Mashrafe bhai (Mashrafe Bin Mortaza). We had a good time at the Bangabandhu T20 Cup and also managed to play good cricket.”
Mahmudullah Riyad
The characteristic confusion and inconsistency in management carried forward in the special edition of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League as the players’ draft for the eighth edition of the franchise-based T20 tournament took place at a city hotel in Dhaka yesterday.
Following late drama over the ownership of the Dhaka franchise just a day before the players’ draft, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCL) disqualified the frontline candidate sponsor for failing to complete the financial formalities in time and that led BCB to take Dhaka’s ownership overnight.
Thus, serious questions were raised over the lack of foresight and mismanagement even after nine years since the introduction of the cash-rich tournament. However, according to Ismail Haider Mollick, the member secretary of BPL governing council, the board should instead be praised for taking necessary steps.
“As you all know, not all franchises are willing to follow the rules and regulations properly. If you compare previous editions in terms of financial aspects, this event is surely taking place on a smaller scale. But we are determined to follow the financial rules and regulations strictly.
“It’s not that there were few interested sponsors but we decided not to give in. Although it didn’t happen within the time frame, we had to verify properly before disqualifying them. The board deserves appreciation for not handing ownership only for the money,” Mollick informed the media.
At the end of day, Dhaka hogged the spotlight in the players’ draft as well. Having recruited Tigers T20 skipper Mahmudullah Riyad as the direct signing, Dhaka went on to rope in ODI captain Tamim Iqbal on their first call and surprised everyone by picking former captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in the third call. Interestingly, it will be the first time the three stalwarts will feature in the same team on the domestic circuit.
“You don’t expect this because normally we three play for different teams. Fortunately it happened this time and I am delighted. I think winning or losing is not everything in cricket as it’s also important to enjoy the game as well. I think whenever we three play together, we definitely enjoy our time,” said Tamim.
According to rules, where each team were allowed to recruit one local player and three foreign players as part of direct signing, Dhaka picked Qais Ahmad and Najibullah Zadran from Afghanistan and Sri Lankan seamer Isuru Udana. Dhaka then roped in Mohammad Shahzad and Fazal Haque of Afghanistan alongside Rubel Hossain and Shuvagata Hom from the draft.
Fortune Barishal directly signed star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan along with West Indian Chris Gayle, Sri Lankan Danushka Gunathilaka and Afghan Mujeeb Ur Rahman. They also picked Nurul Hasan Sohan and Sheikh Mahedi Hasan from the draft.
Experienced Mushfiqur Rahim was directly signed by Khulna Tigers, who also included Sri Lankan Thisara Perera along with Soumya Sarkar, Yasir Ali from the draft.
Comilla Victorians surprised everyone with their three top-class foreign signings which involved the South African Faf du Plessis, who will be playing BPL for the first time. West Indian Sunil Narine and England’s Moeen Ali will also feature alongside the directly-signed Mustafizur Rahman. Comilla, who had won the BPL title twice, also picked Liton Das on their first call in the draft.
Chattogram Challengers banked on youth with Nasum Ahmed alongside West Indian Kennar Lewis and two Englishmen Benny Howell and Will Jacks from direct signing as they roped in Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Shoriful Islam, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Shamim Hossain from the draft.
Last but not the least, Sylhet Sunrisers hired Taskin Ahmed as their direct signing and went on to recruit Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Sri Lankan Dinesh Chandimal from the draft.
The six-team tournament is set to begin on January 21.
