Bangladesh skipper Najmul Shanto was signed by defending champions Fortune Barishal for the forthcoming BPL, which is scheduled to start on December 27. The 26-year-old was not sold in the first round, but the team led by Tamim Iqbal acquired him for the upcoming campaign in the second round.
By selecting Sri Lankan international Pathum Nissanka in the player’s draft, Barishal bolstered their starting lineup. In the abroad category, he was their top pick. Interestingly, Nissanka has excelled in the shortest format, amassing 1429 runs in 55 Twenty20 Internationals. His recent success in the Test series against England would give the 26-year-old more confidence.
James Fuller was also selected by the team in the draft. It’s interesting to note that the 34-year-old played three games and claimed six wickets for Barishal previous season.
Rishad Hossain, a Bangladeshi leggie who recently made an impression with his performances at the 2024 T20 World Cup, was also signed by the team.
However, Saim Ayub, a Pakistani international, was signed by Durdanto Dhaka. Despite having a lot of talent, the 22-year-old has not yet established himself on the global scene. At a strike rate of 122.13, he has amassed 309 runs in 23 Twenty20 Internationals. He hopes to demonstrate to his class in the upcoming BPL, but there is still much space for development. In addition to Ayub, Afghanistan international Amir Hamza was also signed by Dhaka.
Gregory and Hasnain join Khulna, while Sylhet signs Cornwall
Mohammad Hasnain, a pacer from Pakistan, was signed by Khulna for the next campaign. During his 27 T20I appearances, the 24-year-old took 25 wickets at an economy rate of 8.44. He is not a regular with the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL and has never played in the BPL.
Lewis Gregory, an England international, was also signed by Khulna in addition to Hasnain. He did well for Somerset in the Blast, but he had a terrible time in the 2024 Hundred. However, Sylhet signed Samiullah Shenwari and Rahkeem Cornwall. Interestingly, Shinwari still plays in the BPL despite having retired from all forms of cricket.
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In the meanwhile, considering that he played a mediocre game for the Barbados Royals in the CPL, Cornwall is an intriguing choice.