Tag: BPL 2025

Wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan says Pakistan are ‘well prepared’ to lift the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

Speaking in an interview with Cricinfo on the sidelines of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Usman expressed confidence in lifting the T20 World Cup under the coaching of Mike Hesson.

The 30-year-old UAE cricketer, who switched to play for Pakistan in 2024, is currently playing for Dhaka Capitals.

“Our coach Mike Hesson has prepared us very well ahead of the World Cup,” he said.

“We will play Sri Lanka and Australia in the coming month as part of our preparation. We have a great combination in the team, and we are confident about our chances in the World Cup,” he continued.

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He emphasizes the conditions in Sri Lanka, where he will be playing for the first time, although Pakistan has yet to name its T20 World Cup squa

“I am heading to Sri Lanka for the first time. Playing in Dambulla will give us a good opportunity to understand the wickets ahead of the World Cup,” Usman said.

“The conditions are similar to what we faced in the recent tri-series. I am preparing for those wickets and focusing on handling fast bowling. We aim to win the series in Sri Lanka,” he concluded.

For those unware, Pakistan will play a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka which will be followed by home fixtures against Australia in a bid to fine tune their prepartations for the mega event.

As per the hybrid model, the Green Shirts will play all of their matches in Sri Lanka, which will start on 7 February, an event jointly hosted by India.

Watch BPL 2026 matches LIVE Here!

Pakistan will open the World Cup campaign with the match against the Netherlands, which will be followed by a clash against USA on 10 February.

The highly anticipated match of the event between defending champions India and Pakistan will be played on 15 February.

READ: All-round Omarzai fires Sylhet Titans to victory

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have called off the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches scheduled on Tuesday, 30 December, after the country’s former prime minister Khaleda Zia passed away in the morning.

The decision came just a couple of hours before the clash between Sylhet Titans and Chattogram Royals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Khaleda Zia, who became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, served two terms in office from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006.

BCB released a statement after her death, expressing sorrow while recalling the improvements in cricket under her tenure.

Watch BPL 2026 matches LIVE Here!

“The BCB recalls with gratitude her [Zia’s] constant blessings and good wishes for the progress of cricket in this country,” a BCB statement said.

“During her tenure as Prime Minister, she provided outstanding support for the development of cricket in Bangladesh, significantly contributing to improvements in cricket infrastructure and the sport’s growth nationwide.

Her vision and encouragement helped pave the way for many of the advancements the game enjoys today,” it added.

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“In respect of the nation’s mourning and in honour of Begum Khaleda Zia’s legacy, the BCB announces that today’s scheduled Bangladesh Premier League matches have been cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Further details on the revised fixtures will be communicated in due course,” the statement concluded.

The BPL 2025-26 began on 26 December with a double header scheduled each day. With a gap between playing days, the postponement of the fixture is unlikely to cause any scheduling issues.

READ: Faheem’s five-for powers Rangpur Riders to victory over Chattogram Royals

Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed will not feature in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 after sources clarified the circumstances behind his unexpected withdrawal from the tournament.

Abrar had been picked by Chattogram Royals for the 12th edition of the BPL, but it has now emerged that his inclusion in the auction took place without his prior approval.

According to sources, the franchise listed Abrar in the players’ auction despite not securing his consent. When contacted by the team after the auction, the spinner made it clear that he had not agreed to participate in the league.

Following the clarification, Chattogram Royals opted to move on and have since informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of the situation, replacing Abrar with an alternative signing ahead of the tournament.

The development came amid strong Pakistani interest at the BPL players’ auction held on November 30, where several emerging talents attracted notable bids.

Fast bowler Ihsanullah emerged as the most expensive Pakistani signing, with Noakhali Express securing his services for USD 28,000 in the Category C foreign players segment.

Ihsanullah has previously represented Pakistan in one ODI and four T20Is and had earlier been associated with Rangpur Riders, though he did not feature in a match for them.

Middle-order batter Haider Ali was also picked by Noakhali Express for USD 20,000.

The 23-year-old has played 37 international matches for Pakistan and brings prior BPL experience, having scored 213 runs in 13 games at an average of 26.62, including a highest score of 48 not out.

All-rounder Jahandad Khan, who made his T20I debut against Australia last November and has featured in eight T20Is so far, was acquired by Durbar Rajshahi for USD 20,000 in the same category.

These three players will join a group of five Pakistan cricketers who were directly signed before the auction.

Saim Ayub and Mohammad Amir have been roped in by Sylhet Titans, Usman Khan will represent Dhaka Capitals, Khawaja Nafay has signed with Rangpur Riders, while Sahibzada Farhan will turn out for Rajshahi Warriors.

READ: Boxing Day Ashes Test sets cricket attendance record at MCG

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise Durbar Rajshahi owner has promised to clear all the dues following a controversy in which the team’s overseas players were left stranded in a hotel in Dhaka.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Monday, the team owner Md Shafiq Rahman has promised to complete the payments of all their players, and support staff by February 10.

The statement said that, earlier, the Durbar Rajshahi owner had assured the sports adviser Asif Mahmud of completing 50% payment by February 2.

However, the government stepped in after he failed to fulfil his promise and rumours were circulating about him fleeing the country.

According to the Bangladeshi news outlet The Daily Star, the franchise owner was interrogated by law enforcement agencies in the early hours of Monday.

“He [Shafiq] accepted his fault and promised to clear all the payments of the team in three instalments each on February 3, 7 and 10,” the media release stated.

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“He also assured that alongside the players, everyone involved with the team would also receive their payments in each instalment. Otherwise, whatever necessary legal actions will be taken against him.”

For the unversed, Durbar Rajshahi a new addition in the 11th season of the BPL has made headlines this edition due to the payment issues.

Their overseas players were left in a lurch at a hotel yesterday due to non-payment while reports of them not clearing the dues of the hotel and even the team bus also made buzz on social media.

The most notable players who were struck in Dhaka due to the above-mentioned issue included Pakistan’s Mohammad Haris, Afghanistan’s Aftab Alam, Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl as well as West Indies’ Mark Deyal and Miguel Cummins.

According to the reports, the majority of these players were waiting for their payments due while a couple of them have been paid 25%. Additionally, the players haven’t received a daily allowance for the last 11 days.

The team nearly missed playoffs on Saturday when the Khulna Tigers thrashed Dhaka Capitals on the last day of the league stage.

READ: Here’s why PCB decided to consider Babar Azam as opener for Champions Trophy

MIRPUR: Mohammad Naim’s blazing century steered Khulna Tigers to a 46-run victory over Rangpur Riders in the 39th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) here at Shere Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

After choosing to bat first, Khulna Tigers posted a mammoth total of 220 runs at the loss of four wickets in their 20 overs.

Naim was the star of the match, scoring a brilliant 111* runs on 62 balls with the help of eight sixes and seven fours. The centurion alongside captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on a 32-run partnership for the first wicket.

Miraz was dismissed for a well-made 21 by Mahedi Hasan but Mohammad Naim held on to the other end.

He was joined by William Bosisto (36) and they formed an 88-run partnership for the third wicket which took their team into a commanding position.

After Bosisto’s dismissal, Naim alongside Mahidul Islam Ankon (29) forged a 70-run partnership to lift Khulna Tigers to post 220 runs.

Mahedi Hasan, Akif Javed and Iftikhar Ahmed took one wicket apiece for Rangpur Riders.

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While chasing a big total, the Rangpur Riders lost two wickets in the powerplay and were struggling at 36-2. Their opener Tawfique Khan (9) was out LBW by Nasum Ahmed while Saif Hassan (6) was run out courtesy of brilliant fielding by Mohammad Nawaz.

However, the experienced duo of Soumya Sarkar and Iftikhar Ahmed (19) put on a 36-run partnership for the third wicket to keep the team in the hunt.

Sarkar held on to one end, while wickets were tumbling on the other end, and scored his first half-century of BPL, giving a glimmer of hope to Rangpur Riders.

Sarkar scored 74 runs from 48 balls with the help of six boundaries and five sixes, however, he could not take his team across the line, falling in the final over. Rangpur Riders only managed to score 174 runs in their allocated 20 overs.

Musfik was the pick of bowlers, who took 3-24 in his four overs while Mohammad Nawaz bagged two wickets.

After an impressive eight-match winning streak that secured their playoff spot, this was Rangpur Riders’ fourth consecutive loss in the BPL.

READ: Virat Kohli’s return to Ranji Trophy triggers chaos at Delhi Stadium

Pakistan’s batting prodigy Saim Ayub has been roped in by Dhaka Capitals for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025 during the player draft on Monday.

The BPL 2025 Draft was held at a luxurious five-star hotel in Dhaka, where the teams finalised their squads for the upcoming edition. Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed was the first pick, made by Durbar Rajshahi.

Other than Saim, a total of 14 players from Pakistan were picked during the BPL Draft, including Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Khan and Faheem Ashraf.

It’s worth noting that the 11th season of the BPL will be played from December 27 2024 across multiple venues in the country.

BPL 2025 Squads After Draft

Fortune Barishal

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Kyle Mayers (West Indies), David Malan (England), Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan), Mohammad Ali (Pakistan), Jahandad Khan (Pakistan)
Draft Selections: Mahmudullah Riyad, Tanvir Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Ripon Mondol, Ebadot Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Ariful Islam, James Fuller (England), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Nadre Burger (South Africa)

Sylhet Strikers

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Zakir Hasan, Jaker Ali Anik, Paul Stirling (Ireland), George Munsey (Scotland)
Draft Selections: Rony Talukdar, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Ruel Mia, Ariful Haque, Nihaduzzaman, Nahidul Islam, Rahkeem Cornwall (West Indies), Samiullah Shenwari (Afghanistan), Reece Topley (England)

Khulna Tigers

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Nasum Ahmed, Afif Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz
Draft Selections: Hasan Mahmud, Naim Sheikh, Imrul Kayes, Mahidul Ankon, Abu Hider Rony, Ziaur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mohammad Hasnain (Pakistan), Oshane Thomas (West Indies), Lewis Gregory (England), Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)

Rangpur Riders

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Nurul Hasan Sohan, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Khushdil Shah (Pakistan), Alex Hales (England), Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan), Allah Ghazanfar (Afghanistan), Saurabh Netravalkar (USA), Steven Ryan Taylor (USA)
Draft Selections: Nahid Rana, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Irfan Sukkur, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Taufiq Khan Tushar, Akif Javed (Pakistan), Curtis Campher (Ireland)

Dhaka Capitals

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Johnson Charles (West Indies), Stephen Eskinazi (England), Shahnawaz Dahani (Pakistan), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Amir Hamza (Afghanistan)
Draft Selections: Litton Das, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Abu Jayed Rahi, Mukidul Islam Mugdha, Mushfik Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Munim Shahriar, Asif Hasan Mitul, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Saim Ayub (Pakistan), Mir Hamza (Afghanistan)

Chittagong Kings

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Shakib Al Hasan, Shariful Islam (Direct signing), Moeen Ali (England), Usman Khan (Pakistan), Haider Ali (Pakistan), Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka), Mohammad Wasim Jr. (Pakistan), Binura Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Draft Selections: Shamim Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Khaled Ahmed, Alis Al Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Naim Islam, Maruf Mridha, Rahatul Ferdous Javed, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Marshall Ayub, Graham Clark (England), Thomas O’Connell (Australia)

Durbar Rajshahi

Direct Signings and Retained Players: Anamul Haque Bijoy, Zishan Alam
Draft Selections: Taskin Ahmed, Jisan Alam, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Sabbir Hossain, Sanjamul Islam, M Meherob Hossain, Akbar Ali, Hasan Murad, Shafiul Islam, Mohr Sheikh Antor, Saad Nasim (Pakistan), Lahiru Samarakkon (Sri Lanka)

READ: Saim Ayub, Kamran Ghulam lead Pakistan’s fightback after Leach’s early strikes