Eliminated ILT20 players join knockout round of BPL 2024-25

The 11th edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has reached its knockout round after 40 high-profile matches. Meanwhile, several high-profile T20 players joined the competition after being eliminated from the UAE's DP World International League T20 (ILT20). James Vince, Tim David, and Shimron Hetmyer, who were part of Gulf Giants, will now feature in the BPL, while Andre Russell and Jason Holder, previously playing for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, have also made their way to the tournament's final phase.

With many leagues being played at the same time throughout the world, players are frequently moving between competitions, sometimes appearing in multiple tournaments within the same window if their original team gets eliminated early. Interstingly, Vince had already featured in the Big Bash League (BBL) before playing in the ILT20 and now will play his third league in the form of BPL. Similarly, Kyle Mayers, who played for Fortune Barishal earlier in the season, had left for ILT20 but is reportedly returning to rejoin his BPL franchise.

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James Vince poor show in BPL return

These international stars are seen in Monday’s BPL eliminator match. Vince, David, and Russell took the field for Rangpur Riders, while Khulna Tigers added Hetmyer and Holder to their lineup. However, the impact was mixed. Vince had an unfortunate mix-up with Soumya Sarkar, leading to the latter’s run-out in the very first over. Vince himself was dismissed for just one run, struggling on a slow and two-paced pitch. David and Russell also had poor performances, managing only seven and four runs, respectively.

Meanwhile, Hetmyer and Holder strengthened the Khulna Tigers line-up, providing much-needed experience in their knockout clash. The influx of these overseas players has not only intensified the competition but has also brought renewed attention to the league. The BPL has had its fair share of struggles this year, from salary disputes to allegations of corruption. The arrival of these stars has once again brought the league into the limelight.