Tamim, Mashrafe join Riyad in Dhaka; Comilla bag Liton

The three stalwarts of Bangladesh cricket  – Tamim Iqbal, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Mahmudullah Riyad -- have all converged to Dhaka while Comilla Victorians capitalised by recruiting Liton Das from getting the chance to call first in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) players' draft held at a city hotel in Dhaka today.

Comilla bagged pacer Shohidul Islam after ensuring the service of star bowler Mustafizur Rahman while the BCB-owned Dhaka roped in experienced fast bowler Rubel Hossain afterwards.

Meanwhile, Fortune Barishal, following the direct signing of the premier allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, strengthened their squad by recruiting batter Nazmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan.

Elsewhere, the talents of batter Afif Hossain Dhurbo, pacer Shoriful and spinner Nasum Ahmed found their way to Chattogram Challengers. Khulna Tigers hired Soumya Sarkar and Sheikh Mahedi Hasan alongside the direct signing of Mushfiqur Rahim while Sylhet Sunrisers had to settle with recruiting the out-of-favour cricketers of the national side, the likes of Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Mohammad Mithun in their ranks.

The six-team BPL is scheduled to kick off on January 21.