Shakib is Black & White

THE BIG FISH: Shakib Al Hasan (C) lights up the otherwise inter-club cricketers' transfer on Saturday when the world number one all-rounder signed up for Mohammedan. Here Shakib receives a warm reception from the loyal Black and White fans and officials at the club's Motijheel tent after the big signing that reportedly cost Mohammedan over Taka 25 lakh.Photo: STAR

The excitement of the Premier League players' transfer was again absent yesterday at the long conference room of the Bangabandhu National Stadium. To find the enthusiasm that has been a large part of the annual signing ceremony, one had to be at the unusual location of the Mohammedan Sporting Club tent in the evening where the world No 1 all-rounder was roped in to the colours of the famous Black and Whites.
Shakib Al Hasan put pen to paper for the defending champions through special commission in front of members of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) who had to be present to confirm his signature. Mustafa Kabir, CCDM coordinator Qazi Aynul Islam and vice-chairman Hanif Bhuiyan (also cricket secretary of Mohammedan) went to the club a full half-hour before the leading cricketer arrived.
When asked why the commission had to be undertaken, Mohammedan cricket committee chairman Lutfar Rahman Badal said, "There was a slight worry about a big club, so we decided to use the commission."
In a scene out of a political programme, the long hall at the Motijheel club tent was inundated with Mohammedan supporters chanting Shakib's name and showering him with party foam and flower petals. That left little room for the journalists who jostled for space near where two Mohammedan officials presented their prized possession.
Shakib, who Mohammedan reportedly signed for Tk 30 lakh, forced a smile throughout what looked like an ordeal with people pressing down on him.
"I'm really enjoying it, this is a new experience for me. Obviously there's a lot of interest when you play for Mohammedan," said Shakib when he was finally made available to the reporters.
He said that the special situation created for him was not much of a bother. "It is slightly different [from the normal procedure]. Still I think these things happen frequently in our country so there's not much to worry about," said Shakib, who played for Mohammedan's arch-rivals Abahani last season.
When asked why he returned to Mohammedan from Abahani, Shakib's reply was almost simple: "[It is a] better offer, better option, better place. Of course Abahani is a good team but Mohammedan has been my favourite club since my childhood so it is always nice to play for them," he said.
Shakib would need to restore most of what Mohammedan did last season and said it would be a challenge and an opportunity for him, since his domestic form has never been as good as his international one.
Apart from Shakib, Mohammedan also signed up (through commission) Nazimuddin, Mukhtar Ali, Fariduddin Masud, Nur Hossain, Enamul Haque, Tarek Aziz Khan, Shuvashish Roy and Shamsur Rahman.
While there was a huge uproar at the Black & Whites' house, the scene at the transfer venue was like it was on Saturday -- quiet and lifeless.
The conference room sprang to life late in the afternoon when the Abahani players arrived with their supporters and officials.
The Dhanmondi-based side roped in Mahmudullah Riyad, Tapash Baisya, Marshall Ayub, Anamul Haque, Saqlain Sajib, Farhad Hossain, Mahbubul Alam Robin and Alauddin Babu. Hannan Sarkar also signed for Abahani, returning to the club after seven years.
Riyad, one of the national pool players, said he looked forward to playing for Abahani for the first time in his career after spending a season in Mohammedan.
Hannan was also a surprise face when the Abahani players walked in and so was Tapash, playing his first season for the Sky Blues.
Newcomers Prime Dole-shwar also made their presence felt signing national pacemen Rubel Hossain and Nazmul Hossain. Imran Ahmed, Arman Hossain, Delwar Hossain, Uttam Sarkar, Arafat Salahuddin and Nadif Chowdhury are the other important players for the club that rose after becoming First Division Cricket League champions last season.
Syed Rasel, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Sanjamul Islam, Murad Khan and Rasel Al Mamun put pen to paper for Gazi Tank as the players' transfer ended yesterday.