Mushfiqur joins Tamim, Mahmudullah at Barishal

BSS, Dhaka :
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 was held on Sunday 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 Comilla 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.

Comilla, 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 team as he would be in rehab following his 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.

The base prices for players of local cricketers in different categories are: Category A – 80 Lakhs BDT, Category B – 50 Lakhs BDT, Category C – 30 Lakhs BDT, and the rest follow suit.

The base prices for overseas players in different categories are: Category A – USD 80K, Category B – USD 60K, Category C – USD 40K, Category D – USD 30K and Category E – USD 20K.