Mashrafe, Tamim join Abahani

Superstar Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (C) signs for Abahani while fellow national teammate Tamim Iqbal, who also joined the same club, accompanies him on the second day of the cricketers' transfers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

The second day of the inter-club players' transfers came alive yesterday when Mashrafe Bin Mortaza entered the crammed corridors of the BCB offices in the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Mashrafe and his Tigers teammate Tamim Iqbal signed up for defending champions Abahani for the upcoming Premier League after spending last season playing for Bangladesh Biman. It was not only the arrival of the national cricketers that livened up the atmosphere; a bunch of schoolboys clad in maroon sweaters also made some noise. They were members of the BKSP team and their presence confirmed that this season of club cricket might border on the bizarre.
With Mashrafe and Tamim, the Dhanmondi giants also confirmed the dependable Imran Ahmed and under-19 players Rony Talukdar, Nasir Hossain and Ashiqul Islam on the second day.
As the highest paid player for the third consecutive season, Mashrafe's commitment has always been praised by his clubs. How does he do it? "I take a lot of money but I return it by playing with all my heart," said Mashrafe. Tamim also completed a lifelong dream to emulate his family members.
"My uncle (former national captain Akram Khan) and brother (Nafis Iqbal) both played for Abahani and it was a dream to play for this club. Also, they have the chance for a hattrick of titles so it would be good to help them out," said the left-handed opener.
Zunaed Siddiqui and Rajin Saleh rounded off Surjo Tarun's national pool quota. They were roped in along with batsmen Hannan Sarkar, Anisur Rahman and Gazi Salahuddin, offspinner Raihanuddin and paceman Sabbir Ahmed.
Old DOHS also made some noise by drafting in in-form all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad from Victoria Sporting Club, who themselves went for mid-level players like batsman Shakil Haider, wicketkeeper Arman Hossain, left-armer Tariqul Islam, all-rounder Arafat Salahuddin and impressive BKSP paceman Latiful Azam.
Newly promoted side Gazi Tank were also supposed to bring out their pool players Mohammad Ashraful, Nayeem Islam and Imrul Kayes but they only signed up wicketkeeper Mohammad Mithun and left-arm spinner Mohammad Mithun. Fellow promoters CCS were however quite busy on the day, signing up Elias Sunny, Uttam Kumar and Nizamuddin among others.
Several First Division sides came up with their new recruits but the BKSP lads was the reason for most curiosity since their presence gave the feel of an examination and not an inter-club transfers for professional cricketers.