Mashrafe Mortaza included in A category ahead of BPL players’ draft

Former Bangladesh captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, has made it to the A category ahead of the players’ draft for the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The 38-year-old hasn’t played international cricket since March 2020 after he relinquished captaincy.

In fact, the Narail-born speedster hasn’t played any form of cricket since December 2020 when he plied his trade for the Gemcon Khulna in the inaugural Bangabandhu T20 Cup. In the same tournament, he also picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is.

Ismail Haider, the BPL governing council member secretary, said that the veteran deserves apt recognition and hence, was put in the A category. While being away from cricket, Mortaza has performed his duties as the minister of parliament.

”Yes, we have kept Mashrafe in A category as we feel he deserves to be there. Though I cannot comment about the national team, he is still a very good player in domestic circuit and is one of the best cricketing brains around. We must also show some respect for all his contribution and if you go by statistics, you will see he is very successful in BPL,” Haider was quoted as saying on Cricbuzz.

Mortaza is third in the list of leading wicket-takers in the history of the BPL. The veteran is one of the highest-capped BPL player with 81 wickets from 87 matches.

Mashrafe Mortaza and five other players in A category

Going by the list in the players’ draft, six cricketers – Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman – are confirmed to be in the A category.

Fee cap for local players

A category (BDT 70 Lac), B category (BDT 35 Lac), C category (BDT 25 Lac), D category (BDT 18 Lac), E category (BDT 12 Lac) and F category (BDT 05 Lac).

In the meantime, all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin, who’s grappling with injuries of late, hasn’t found a place in the drafts. The youngster expressed his agony after being overlooked.

“Nobody is ready to hear or understand junior players like us. I don’t have any complaint against anyone but I am hurt,” Saifuddin was quoted as saying on his official Facebook page.

The BPL is set to take place from January 21 to February 18 with the drafts scheduled to be held on December 27 at Radisson Blu Water Garden in Dhaka.