North Zone snapped up wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and East Zone roped in opener Tamim Iqbal in the Bangladesh Cricket League player draft, which was held at the Bangladesh Cricket Board headquarters in Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
A total of 80 cricketers will take part in the country’s only franchise-based first-class cricket tournament under four teams: North Zone, East Zone, South Zone and Central Zone. This year, the BCB will manage North Zone and South Zone itself, while Walton will sponsor Central Zone and Islami Bank will sponsor East Zone.
Most cricketers of the national team will be available for the first and third round of the tournament. Mushfiq will be available for North Zone for the entirety of the BCL, as he has opted out of the tour of Pakistan.
All-rounder Mahmudullah will feature for South Zone, while left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, and batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun have been picked by Central Zone.
With the four-team tournament set to start on Friday, cricketers that had failed the mandatory beep test on the first occasion retook it at the BCB’s indoor facilities on Monday.
Almost 100 cricketers participated in the fitness test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Sunday as the four teams of the @BCBtigers Bangladesh Cricket League put the final touches to their preparation ahead of the players draft Mondayhttps://t.co/f6BMzTutIM#BCL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 26, 2020
The BCB Tournament Committee has decided to cut the red-ball tournament short this time, and it will be run in a single league to accommodate the Dhaka Premier League 2019-20 season.
“I think we have formed a decent team involving national cricketers. We will of course fight for the championship,” Central Zone coach Zafrul Ehsan told the media after the player draft.
Former national cricketer and Manager of South Zone Nafees Iqbal is also optimistic of his side’s chances, as they have a balanced squad.
“This team has the ability to lift the championship. The presence of national cricketers will bring a good ambience to the dressing room. I am looking forward to a good competition,” Nafees added.
Squads:
South Zone: Abdur Razzak, Al Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Mahmudullah, Fazle Mahmud, Farhad Reza, Shamsur Rahman, Mohammad Al Amin, Nasum Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Shahriar Nafees, Robiul Haque, Irfan Shukkur, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Ruyel Miah.
East Zone: Imrul Kayes, Abu Jayed Chowdhury, Afif Hossain, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Pinak Ghosh, Hasan Mahmud, Zakir Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Amite Hasan, Rejaur Rahman, Tanvir Islam, Imranuzzaman, Khaled Ahmed, Rony Chowdhury, Mohammad Ashraful
Central Zone: Saif Hassan, Shuvagata Hom, Taibur Rahman, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Arafat Sunny, Shohidul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Raqibul Hasan, Mukidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Nazmul Islam, Mohammad Naim, Abdul Mazid, Ifran Hossain, Mohammad Suhrawardi, Shoriful Islam, Akbar Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
North Zone: Ariful Haque, Nayeem Islam, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sunzamul Islam, Ebadat Hossain, Rony Talukder, Sumon Khan, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Rishad Hossain, Sanjit Saha, Salauddin Shakil, Jahurul Islam, Tanbir Haider, Enamul Haque jnr, Mizanur Rahman, Hossain Ali, Muktar Ali
