Shakib boost for Khulna

A lot of curiosity was generated among cricketers as the players' draft of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup, which will mark the return of competitive cricket in the country following a lengthy break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place at a city hotel yesterday.

The draft took place behind closed doors and many cricketers remained in constant touch with the journalists keeping a close eye on proceedings.

Through a lottery, the five teams got opportunities to pick players, who were divided into four grades – A, B, C and D. Beximco Dhaka got the first call and picked wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim from Grade A.

Dhaka also roped in experienced pacer Rubel Hossain, and balanced that by picking up and comers like young left-handed opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Under-19 World Cup-winning skipper Akbar Ali.

Gemcon Khulna was the second team to call and they wasted no time in drafting in Shakib Al Hasan, who will be making his return to cricket in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup after completing a one-year ban. Khulna also picked another experienced cricketer in Mahmudullah Riyad, also from Grade A, but he is currently in self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus and is expected to join the squad after he tests negative. It will however be interesting to see who will lead Khulna as two experienced campaigners Shakib and Mahmudullah – both having led Bangladesh in the shortest format – are in the team.

Fortune Barishal picked Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal and has already announced that the left-hander will captain the side this season. They also boast bright performers from last month's BCB President's Cup like Taskin Ahmed, Afif Hossain, Irfan Shukkur, Sumon Khan and Towhid Hridoy.

Gazi Group Chattogram picked Mustafizur Rahman from Grade A and generally banked on experience when forming their squad. Tigers' Test skipper Mominul Haque, Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain and Taijul Islam will add loads of experience as they are all international players. Chattogram also have a few youngsters like pacer Shoriful Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, both of whom have impressed in recent times.

Minister Group Rajshahi picked all-rounder Saifuddin from Grade B as their first call and they also have roped in former Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful, who was in Grade D. Each team can have a maximum of 16 players in the squad and in terms of expenditure, Khulna topped the list as they spent Tk 1.14 crore in the players' draft.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to announce the schedule of the tournament, it was learned that the competition is set to begin from the third week of November. All the matches of the tournament are expected to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.