BPL Draft: Durbar Rajshahi sign Taskin Ahmed; Reece Topley joins Sylhet Strikers

After spending two years in Dhaka, Taskin Ahmed will be switching sides as he is set to represent Durbar Rajshahi in the upcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League, slated to begin on December 27. Notably, Taskin was Rajshahi’s first call the Players’ Draft, which took place on October 14 in the national capital. 

Taskin has played 78 games in the BPL, picking up 102 wickets at an average of 21.87. He has been a dynamite in white-ball cricket but had a rough time in the recent T20I series in India, where Bangladesh suffered a humiliating 0-3 clean sweep.

Meanwhile, the upcoming BPL holds massive importance for someone like Taskin, who would look forward to impress the team management and get into Bangladesh’s squad for the Champions Trophy. Apart from Taskin, Rajshahi also signed Yasir Ali, who has played 11 T20Is for Bangladesh, scoring 128 runs at a strike rate of 142.22. He was part of Sylhet last year, where he scored only 58 runs in five games. Meanwhile, Rajshahi also signed Jishan Alam, Sabbir Hossain, Saad Nasim, and Akbar Ali among six other players.

Also Read - Dhaka Capitals sign Litton Das in BPL Players’ Draft

On the other end, Sylhet Strikers signed England international Reece Topley for the next season. It is a massive signing given that the pacer can solve their death over issues. The 30-year-old has played 34 T20Is for the national team, picking 33 wickets at an average of 28.84. Notably, he is currently going through a rough phase as he failed to impress in The Hundred and the Australia series.

Barishal sign Mahmudullah and Nandre Burger

Barishal made some huge signings in the players’ draft. Apart from signing Bangladesh captain Najmul Shanto and Sri Lanka international Pathum Nissanka, they also signed all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad, who recently announced his retirement from T20I cricket. He will be effective for the team in the middle and death overs.

Also Read - BPL Draft: Najmul Shanto, Pathum Nissanka join Barishal; Saim Ayub joins Dhaka

The franchise has solved its pace bowling worries by signing South Africa international Nandre Burger. The 29-year-old did a decent job in the last edition of the Indian Premier League, picking seven wickets in six games for Rajasthan Royals.