Cricket

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) draft for the 2024-25 season witnessed a flurry of activity as teams eagerly snapped up top-tier talent. Taskin Ahmed, the seasoned fast bowler, emerged as the first overall pick, joining the newly formed Durbar Rajshahi franchise. Defending champions Fortune Barishal opted for Mahmudullah, the recently retired T20I star, with the seventh pick.Other notable first-round selections included fast bowlers Hasan Mahmud (Khulna Tigers) and Nahid Rana (Rangpur Riders), as well as established batters Litton Das (Dhaka Capitals), Shamim Hossain (Chittagong Kings), and Rony Talukdar (Sylhet Strikers).Despite their Category A status, legspinner Rishad Hossain and T20I captain Najmul Hossain Shanto went unpicked in the first round. However, Barishal later acquired both players with the 15th and 43rd overall picks, respectively. Shanto's recent form has been underwhelming, while Rishad's availability remains uncertain due to his BBL contract with the Hobart Hurricanes.Sylhet Strikers, who retained several key players from last season, added veteran all-rounder Mashrafe Mortaza to their ranks. They also secured the services of overseas stars Reece Topley, Rahkeem Cornwall, and Samiullah Shenwari.Barishal, the defending champions, retained Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim while directly signing a host of international players, including Dawid Malan, Kyle Mayers, Mohammad Nabi, and Faheem Ashraf. They also picked up Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka, who will be available for a limited period during the BPL.Pakistani cricketers Saim Ayub, Akif Javed, and Mohammad Hasnain were among the first overseas players selected, followed by James Fuller (Barishal) and Graham Clark (Chittagong).Uncapped Bangladeshi players also made their mark in the draft, with Nahid Rana, Habibur Rahman Sohan, and Jishan Alam being early picks.The BPL teams have until the tournament's scheduled start date of December 27 to continue signing players directly. The new season will feature a mix of established franchises (Barishal, Khulna, Sylhet, and Rangpur) and new entrants (Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rajshahi).

Mahmudullah Retires from T20Is, Citing Focus on ODIsVeteran Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad has announced his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), effective after the third and final match of the ongoing series against India. The 38-year-old made the announcement at a pre-match press conference ahead of the second T20I in Delhi.Mahmudullah, who made his international debut in 2007, has been a mainstay in Bangladesh's T20I setup for over a decade. He has played 139 T20Is, scoring 2,213 runs at an average of 22.13 and taking 92 wickets with his off-spin bowling. He has also captained Bangladesh in 35 T20Is."Yes, I'm retiring from T20Is after the last game of this series. It was pre-decided," Mahmudullah said. "It's the right time to move on from this format and concentrate on ODI."Mahmudullah's decision to retire from T20Is comes as no surprise, as he has been struggling for form in recent times. He has not scored a half-century in his last 10 T20I innings and has taken only two wickets in his last five matches.However, Mahmudullah remains a key player for Bangladesh in ODIs. He has played 232 ODIs, scoring 4,876 runs at an average of 33.14 and taking 153 wickets. He is also Bangladesh's most successful ODI captain, having led the team to 43 victories in 73 matches.Mahmudullah's retirement from T20Is will be a significant loss for Bangladesh, but it will also allow him to focus on his ODI career and help Bangladesh qualify for the 2023 World Cup.