BPL players draft underway

The player's draft of the 11th edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is underway at a local hotel in the city.

Like the past editions, seven teams will participate in the country's only recognized T20 tournament, but three teams get new owners and names this time.

While 198 local cricketers got a place in the player draft, the number of foreigners is much higher.

There are 440 cricketers in the player draft list in five categories. Locals will get a maximum Tk 60 lakhs and a minimum Tk 10 lakhs.    

Cricketers in the foreign category will get a maximum of US$ 70,000 and a minimum of US$15,000.

So far 18 cricketers have found their address through retentions and direct signings. The rest have to wait till Monday.

According to BPL and franchise officials, reigning champions Fortune Barishal retained Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim and roped in Towhid Hridoy as their direct signing, while Chittagong Kings signed Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam.

Sylhet Strikers preferred to retain Zakir Hasan and Tanzim Hasan Sakib instead of Mashrafe bin Mortaza, who is placed in category B this time.    

The four established franchises can retain a maximum of two local players from their squad from the previous edition, while they can recruit only one local player from any category as a direct signing, according to draft rules.

The BPL governing council informed that the newly awarded three franchises can recruit two local players from any category as direct signings from the local players' draft list.

Fortune Barisal

Retained: Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim

Direct signing: Towhid Hriody

Rangpur Riders

Retained: Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mahedi Hasan

Direct signing: Mohammad Saifuddin

Khulna Tigers

Retained: Nasum Ahmed and Afif Hossain

Direct signing: Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Sylhet Strikers

Retained: Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Zakir Hasan

Direct signing: Jaker Ali Anik

Dhaka Capitals

Direct signing: Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzid Hasan Tamim

Durbar Rajshahi

Direct signing: Anamul Haque Bijoy and Jisan Alam

Chittagong Kings

Direct signing: Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam