BPL players auction today

Admin Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:38 am

All efforts of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Game On Sports Management went in vain as they failed to make India cricket board agree to permit their players’ to play in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). BPL promised to ignite Bangladesh with famed cricketers during the tournament but in reality apart from Shahid Afridi, Chirs Gayle, Muttiah Muralitharan and some others, there was no cricketers who had some star values and popularity. Furthermore, Afridi and Gayle would not be available for entire tournament.

The hype of watching the renowned stars which was predicted by some BCB officials suddenly looked to be dimmed as the BPL failed in all aspects even before starting the tournament.

Even the BPL is yet to decide about the base price of the icon players. The franchises want to pay the icon players five percent more than the highest paid local players instead of paying them more than the overall highest paid player in their respective team. BPL governing body will take the decision on Saturday in their next meeting, said Sirajuddin Alamgir, member secretary BPL governing council.

The BPL governing body confirmed on Wednesday night that no Indian players will play the inaugural version of BPL.
Apart from the Indian star, a very few famed cricketers will be auctioned that will be taken place at a local hotel in the city on Thursday.

A high profile BPL team comprised with BPL governing body chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul, Mahbubul Anam and Ali Ahsan Babu visited India some days ago to confirm the availability of the Indian cricketers. But the endeavour became futile. Even they tried to confirm them just some hours ahead of the auction but that also went in vain.

Moreover, star players’ like Shane Warne and Adam Gilchirst whom BPL vowed to make available, did not give their nod till filing of this report.

Even another Twenty20 star Tilkaratne Dilshan, the skipper Sri Lanka will not be in auction list though BPL listed his name. Later GOSM director Anjan Ganguly ensured that this Dilshan was not the captain of Sri Lanka.
“Indian players will not play the inaugural version of the BPL,” said Ganguly.

“As during the BPL, a tri-nation series involving India, Australia and Sri Lanka will be held, Dilshan won’t be available.”
A total of 111 foreign players and 86 local players will be auctioned. Amongst them six Bangladeshi players have been listed as A category player (with base price of US$ 45,000), 12 players in Category B (with base price of US$ 30,000) and 68 players in Category C (with base price of US$ 20,000).

17 foreign players have been in Category A (base price US$ 1 lakh), 36 in Category B (base price US$ 50,000) and 58 in Category C (base price US$ 25,000).

Though the BPL governing body however warned the players sternly not to reach an agreement with any franchises before the auction in the wake of a series of complains that the auction would be compromised like the team auction, apprehension loomed around that there was underhand dealings.

However the players’ expressed their disappointment over the discrimination of the base price of local and foreign players.
“There should be playing opportunities for some more local players in the A category. Even it would be better if the minimum floor price of the local and foreign players would be the identical,” said Nasir Hossain, the category A player.
Suhrawardi Shuvo, the category B player however was excited with open auction.

“All listed players along with a numerous players at different levels across the country are thrilled with the auction. Like me, they all will be eagerly waiting for seeing the open bidding of the BPL,” Shuvo said.

“Most of the local players, who are going to participate in such new format cricket game for the first time. All could get to learn many things from this domestic flagship event.”

He became worried about when he thought that many good players will not get teams in the meet.
“BPL governing body made a long list of players. To the last, a chunk of good cricket players will not get any team. If it will happen it would not be well for cricket.”