BPL : Shakib Al Hasan Signs with Chittagong Kings for the Season
BPL has always been covered in drama and suspense. The run-up to the Bangladesh Premier League’s 2023 season was however more uncertain and chaotic with nightlong negotiations and continuous work at every desk. Transfers by the teams without much warning and final draft choices make the tournament something electric to be seen in for cricket lovers everywhere.
Shakib Al Hasan- A Journey for Stars to Chittagong Kings
Bangladesh’s all-rounding star, Shakib Al Hasan, had accepted a two-year deal with Rangpur Riders. Recently, he hogged headlines in Bangladesh as he joined the Chittagong Kings under a mutual understanding between the franchises. It has ignited one sided debate among the fans and gurus.
For Shakib, the change comes against a chaotic backdrop. “We were all under such massive uncertainty,” he said. “We didn’t even know how many teams were coming to play. Huge efforts went into this.”
The Chittagong Kings are eagerly awaiting Shakib’s leadership and versatility as they gear up for what promises to be an intensely competitive season.
Fortune Barishal’s Late Addition
The Fortune Barishal franchise has also performed well. By being able to pick over 40 players from the draft, it signed the exciting young talent Rishad Hossain. However, there was some delay in the process as most of them are committed to play in the Big Bash League for Hobart Hurricanes.
Barishal also added the current Bangladesh skipper, and dependable left-handed batter, Najmul Hossain Shanto. Those signings have further added to their strength and make them a team to watch in this season’s BPL.
A Draft of Memories
BPL draft is mainly the pillar in the preparations for the current season. BCB president, Faruque Ahmed, described relief and contentment at getting a successful drafting event despite everything working against this edition.
We weren’t so sure how much sweat, hard work, and time would be invested into this,” Ahmed said. “The last two and a half months have been pretty intense, but we now see things more clearly with team balance and player availability. Not perfect by any means, but this draft was a giant leap forward.”
With seven teams in the fray and still some spots open, the franchises now have up to December 27th to finalize their squads.
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Focus on Better Wickets and Enhanced Gameplay
The BPL has always focused on bettering the T20 format, and Ahmed is confident that improvements can be seen in this season too. The one area that comes to the mind is the pitches.
“This time, our best effort will be for good batting wickets, where bowlers are respected if they bowl well,” Ahmed explained. “In the previous tournament, day-time matches saw low scores, but overall, the wickets weren’t bad. We’re working to make T20 cricket more enjoyable for everyone.”
The BCB wants to make the viewing experience better, and that is why it wants to keep the fans engaged and the players challenged. It wants to strike a balance between bat and ball to ensure exciting contests on the field.
A Mega Event Awaits
The excitement around the tournament has been intense as the franchises gear up to begin the tournament. Superstars like Shakib Al Hasan are switching franchises, and last-minute strategic recruitments by teams like Fortune Barishal show that BPL 2023 is going to be high octane.
High stakes, ready teams, and eagerly awaiting fans. No matter who your favorite team is- the Chittagong Kings, the Fortune Barishal squad or any other your season will surely be special.
Follow the action in the BPL as the chapters unfold to deliver exciting cricket from the best that Bangladesh has to offer.
