BPL 2019: List of players retained by franchises

All the franchises in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) had to submit the list of players they wished to retain for the upcoming edition on or before 30th September. Only Chittagong Vikings have not submitted their list as yet as they are planning to bail out of the tournament next season.

According to BD Crictime, no team wanted to let go the opportunity to retain four players. Apart from the local Bangladeshi cricketers, a lot of Pakistani and Windies cricketers were retained by franchises, which includes the likes of Sunil Narine, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine.

Interestingly, Chris Gayle was not included in the list submitted by Rangpur Riders as they preferred to go with four local players. Apart from their skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, they retained Nazmul Islam, Rubel Hossain and Mohammad Mithun in their side.

Dhaka retain their big players

Dhaka Dynamites held on to their three big players – Shakib Al Hasan, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine. The other cricketer retained by the Dynamites is Rovman Powell. Rajshahi Kings too preferred to retain the local players and will be continuing with Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Mominul Haque, Zakir Hassan, and their stalwart Mustafizur Rahman.

Comilla Victorians have retained the experienced duo of Tamim Iqbal and Shoaib Malik alongside Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Saifuddin. Sylhet Sixes retained just three players in Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain and Sohail Tanvir whilst Mahmudullah Riyad, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Carlos Brathwaite will continue to feature for Khulna.

The player draft for the upcoming season will be held on 25th October and the tournament will be commencing in January 2019. Earlier, it was scheduled that the tournament will be conducted in November 2018, but due to the elections in Bangladesh, the tournament was postponed.

Here’s the list of all the retained players.

Rangpur Riders (Defending champions)

Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Mithun, Nazmul Islam, Rubel Hossain

Dhaka Dynamites

Shakib Al Hasan, Kieron Pollard (Windies), Sunil Narine (Windies), Rovman Powell (Windies)

Rajshahi Kings

Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Mominul Haque, Zakir Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman

Comilla Victorians

Tamim Iqbal, Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Saifuddin

Sylhet Sixers

Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan)

Khulna Titans

Mahmudullah Riyad, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Carlos Brathwaite (Windies)