BPL to showcase 16 Pakistani stars this year

At least sixteen Pakistani players will be in action for six different teams during the third edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 championship next month.

The third edition of the BPL will commence on November 22 this year.

Six teams, Dhaka Dynamites, Chittagong Vikings, Rangpur Riders, Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls and Sylhet Superstars will be competing for the title.

Out of the total 16 Pakistani players, who are named by different teams in their squads for the BPL 2015, seven were picked from a draft-pool auction on Thursday while nine others signed direct contracts with different franchises.

Dhaka Dynamites picked five Pakistani players in their squad of 18. Spin wizard Yasir Shah, fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, opening batsman Nasir Jamshed, pacer Sohail Khan and batsman Shahzeb Hassan will be representing Dhaka’s team.

They’ll also share the dressing room with Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara.

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir will also be in action during the BPL, he is making a comeback to the game after completing his five-year ban from all types of cricket following his confession of being involved in the spot-fixing scandal.

He, along with spin maestro Saeed Akmal and two Akmals – Kamran and Umar – will be playing for Chittagong Vikings.

Sylhet Superstars will have services of T20 specialist and Pakistan’s captain in the shortest format Shahid Afridi, who signed a pre-draft contract with the franchise.

On Thursday, Sylhet’s franchise picked another Pakistani all-rounder Sohail Tanvir from the draft.

Mohammad Sami and Imad Waseem are picked by Barisal Bulls while Wahab Riaz will be in action for Rangpur Riders.

Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shahzad will be seen in action for Comilla Victorians.