Many cricketers around the world are interested in 'hotcake' tournaments like IPL. As it was a mega auction this time, the fans and supporters of Bangladesh had high expectations like others. But none of Mostafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain got any team in 2025 IPL.
In this year's IPL, 13 Bangladesh cricketers were named in the short list, but the IPL authorities brought the number to 12. Along with Mostafiz, Rishad were Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Nahid Rana, Tawheed Hriday, Hasan Mahmud, Sheikh Mehdi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Shariful Islam. However, none of the IPL franchises showed interest in the two-day mega auction that ended yesterday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Where Mustafiz was in the discussion after playing brilliantly in the jersey of Chennai Super Kings in 2024 IPL. Chennai even contacted the left-handed pacer of Bangladesh this time.
Franchises may have kept in mind the past actions of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) when it came to taking Bangladeshi cricketers to the IPL. Because, before this, Shariful Islam, Taskin Ahmed had the possibility of playing IPL a few times. But no objection letter (NOC) was received from BCB due to conflict with international cricket. BCB director Nazmul Abedin Fahim's words also hinted at something like that. The BCB director told reporters in Mirpur today, 'The franchise cannot be taken into the league by force. You can go if you are qualified. We had a chance last year or the year before that. Couldn't use it. In my opinion we should try to utilize these opportunities.'
Shakib has played the most 63 matches among Bangladeshi cricketers in IPL. Mostafiz, who is second in this list, played 57 matches in India's franchise tournament. However, Shakib last played in IPL in 2021 for Kolkata Knight Riders. His performance in this franchise tournament of India is not as expected. Apart from that, Liton, Hearts have lacked consistency in their performances in T20 Internationals. Fahim's voice is full of regret, 'I am personally sorry, but I directly judge our standards. A place on the world stage means that we are in good standing. But if I don't get a place here, that means the situation is not good.'
Afghanistan cricketers regularly play in local and foreign franchise leagues around the world. 7 Afghan cricketers have got a team in this year's IPL. Where the Afghan mysterious spinner Mohammad Ghazanfar was bought by Mumbai Indians for 4 crore 8 million rupees. Fahim believes that tournaments like IPL have contributed to the poor performance of Afghans in T20. The BCB selector said, 'Afghanistan has only done this but slowly brought their players to this place. Slowly the number of their players is increasing in this place, we have fallen behind.'
The mega auction held ahead of the 2025 IPL broke the previous record. Lucknow Super Giants have taken Rishabh Pant for 27 crore rupees. Which is the highest in IPL history. This time, Punjab Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for 26 crore 75 lakh rupees. Mitchell Starc is third in the list of the most expensive cricketers in IPL. In the last IPL, Starc was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for 24 crore 75 lakh rupees.
