A total of 100 cricketers were picked in the Players’ Draft of the Dhaka Premier League 2018, held in Dhaka Saturday.
The 12 clubs of the premier 50-over cricket tournament of the country participated in the draft and formed their respective squads for the competition, set to start on February 5.
Selection of the 12 icon cricketers was the main attraction of the event. However, three of the clubs – Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited, Brothers Union and newly promoted side Agrani Bank Cricket Club – did not pick any icon cricketer for the season. This paved the way for three other clubs to grab an extra icon player for the season.
Prime Bank Cricket Club, Abahani Limited and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club bagged two icons each. Prime Bank roped in Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain while defending champion Abahani picked Nasir Hossain and Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club grabbed Liton Das and Mustafizur Rahman. Newly promoted from the Dhaka First Division Cricket League, Shinepukur Cricket Club picked Mashrafe bin Mortaza but it is rumoured that the club might let go the veteran pacer to Abahani, backed by the clause where a club can exchange or give a player to another club upon mutual understanding.
Gazi Group Cricketers bagged Imrul Kayes as the icon of the side while Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited recruited Shakib al Hasan. Legends of Rupganj have Mushfiqur Rahim as the icon while Kalabagan Krira Chakra picked Tamim Iqbal from the draft.