Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– All rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerged as the most expensive batsman as Dhaka Gladiators bought him at US$3,65,000 for the second edition of the Bangladesh Premiere League (BPL) T20.
The left handed all rounder Shakib became the highest paid local golden category cricketer was bought in an auction held at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel Dhaka in Dhaka on Thursday.
Earlier, in the first edition of BPL, Shakib was bought by Khulna Royals for $ 210,000.
The second highest paid Golden category player, Imran Nazir of Pakistan, has been purchased by Chittagong Royals for $285,000. He is the highest paid foreign player.
In the same category, Pakistani Saeed Ajmal was snatched by Barisal Burners for $ 115,000.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Gladiators again confirmed the service of Pakistani dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi purchasing him for $280,000.
Dashing left handed opener Tamim Iqbal was confirmed by Duronto Rajshahi at $165,000 while Sylhet Royals bought Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim for $205,000.
Bangladesh vice captain Mahmuduullah of Golden category signed by Chittagonmg Kings for $ 125,000.
All the four local players — Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have categorized in the Golden group.
Among the local A category cricketers, all rounder Nasir Hossain was bought by Rangpur Riders at a highest paid of $ 208,000 while Shohag Gazi was second highest player bought by Sylhet Royals for $ 156,000.
Besides, Dhaka Gladiators confirmed services of speedster Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for $ 141,000, Enamul Haque and Mohammad Ashraful each for $60,000.
Ziaur Rahman was auctioned by Duronto Rajshahi for $ 137,000 while national spinner Abdur Razzak was bought by Rangpur Riders $ 92,777.
This year Rangpur Riders have been included in the second edition of BPL along with the previous six franchise Dhaka Gladiators, Chittagong Kings, Kjulna Royal Bengals, Sylhet Royals and Barisal Burners. All the seven teams took part in the auction.
While this year’s auction did lose some shine with big hitters Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle pulling out of the T20 league before the auction, the loss however was somewhat recuperated with the late additions of Sri Lankans Lasith Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Both Malinga and Dilshan were bought by the Gladiators for 115,000 and 75,000 dollars respectively.
Due to the ‘salary cap system’ put into effect in this year’s auction the players, apart from getting their highest possible ‘capped-value’, 30 per cent of the additional price will be added to the capped value. Therefore, the highest earner of the second edition of the BPL was Nazir (base price: 75,000 dollars, bid price: 28,000 dollars), who earned approximately 189,000 dollars. Afridi was next with 187,500 dollars.
As for Shakib, his low cap value of 75,000 dollars meant that he’d earn approximately 162,000 dollars this time.
The inauguration of second edition of BPL will be held on January 17 next year while the matches of the tournament begin on January 18. Apart form Dhaka, matches will be held in Khulna and Chittagong.
BBN/SSR/AD-21Dec12-8:30 am (BST)
