The Story
With the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is all set for 2017/18 season, the participating franchises are prepping up to name the list of four players whom they would like to retain for the upcoming season. The draft process is scheduled to take place on September 24 while the tentative date for the franchises to submit their retention list is July 24 as announced by the BPL’s governing council.
According to one of the franchise’s officials, they will discuss on various issues on Thursday and later finalise the four players whom they want to retain from the six probable candidates.
“We are expected to finalise our list of four players [that we want to retain] from them [six probable candidates],” Dynamites chief executive Obaid Nizam said. “It’s a bit tricky as all of them performed well during our last campaign, but we have to understand our requirements and choose accordingly to form a balanced squad along with our foreign recruits,” he added.
A-Plus player will get to play by their choice
The franchises with top players are relieved after the A-plus names were given the liberty to choose the teams of the choice. While this news from the tournament’s governing council may have opened the opportunities galore for players seeking to play with new franchises, it has made it easy for the franchise to sit and negotiate deals to retain their superstars.
The probable candidates in the A-Plus category are Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mossadek Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Abu Jahed Rahi and Mehedi Maruf. Cricbuzz has reported that Shakib, Nasir, Mossadek and Shahid will make the cut for this edition of BPL.
Defending champions, Dhaka Dynamites, has benefitted from the decision as most of the players are expected to continue with the franchise.
Runners-up in the 2016 season, Rajshahi Kings, are also set to retain wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (A-plus category) along with other top names like Mominul Haque, the middle-order batsman, Farhad Reza and off-spinner, Mehedi Hasan Miraj.
Winners of the 2015-16 season, Comilla Victorians, meanwhile will look to take advantage of the opportunity and negotiate to rope in with Tamim Iqbal, who has played only for the Chittagong franchises – Chittagong Kings and Chittagong Vikings, since the inception of the league in 2012-13.
As per Mohammad Salahuddin, the Vikings coach, Tamim’s move to Victorians is almost certain will join Victorians whereas the franchise has decided to retain Imrul Kayes, Liton Das and the young all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin.
Khulna Titans will stick with star all-rounder Mahmudullah and will be named a captain. The franchise is expected to retain Shafiul Islam, Shuvagata Hom and Ariful Haque too.
Mashrafe Mortaza could join Rangpur Riders.