BPL returns to auction format after 12 years with high drama
After more than a decade of relying on a draft system, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) made its long-awaited return to a player auction format on Sunday, held at a city hotel. This was the league’s first auction since its inaugural season in 2012.
The high-stakes event was delayed by nearly an hour due to a legal hold-up — the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) awaited High Court clearance after nine cricketers filed writ petitions for being excluded from the auction over fixing-related allegations.
When the auction finally got underway, it opened with a headline-making moment.
Mohammad Naim headlines the auction with record price
Chittagong Royals kicked off the day by signing opener Mohammad Naim as the first player on the auction block. Naim, who was the leading run-scorer in the previous BPL season, fetched over BDT 1 crore (approx. US$ 82k), becoming the only player to cross that threshold.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Naim’s price set a new benchmark for domestic players and underscored the Royals’ aggressive intent heading into the 2026 season.
Towhid Hridoy and Litton Das were the next big-ticket signings, with Rangpur Riders securing both players for US$ 73,600 and US$ 56,000 respectively.
Veterans Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur find late takers
The auction wasn’t without its share of surprises. Two of Bangladesh’s most seasoned campaigners — Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim — received no initial bids despite being in Category B.
However, following a request by BCB director and Rangpur Riders CEO Ishtiaque Sadeque, the auctioneer reopened bidding for both players. Mahmudullah was picked by Rangpur Riders, and Mushfiqur Rahim was signed by Rajshahi Warriors — both at their base price of BDT 35 lakh (approx. US$ 28.7k).
Rangpur Riders team director Shanian Taneem later clarified the team’s strategy, saying, “If anyone thinks Mahmudullah Riyad went unsold, that’s not entirely correct. Every team had limitations. With 14 players each in A and B categories and restrictions that we couldn’t pick more than two, we had to choose based on strategy. But Mahmudullah was always in our plans. A player of his calibre should be in any team’s plans.”
Noakhali Express benefit from auction confusion
One of the most talked-about moments came when Noakhali Express managed to sign Mahidul Islam and Jaker Ali at their base prices. The move came after a moment of confusion during the auction, when Chattogram Royals picked two players consecutively, leading others to believe they were restricted from further bidding in Categories A and B.
With only five franchises having picked from the top tiers, Noakhali capitalized on the situation, adding two promising players uncontested.
Reflecting on the stroke of fortune, head coach Khaled Mahmud said, “I am happy to get those two cricketers at their base price because I didn’t expect it,” as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Uncapped players and overseas buys make waves
Among the uncapped players, Habibur Rahman Sohan stood out. On the back of his strong showing for Bangladesh A in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, he was picked up by Noakhali Express for US$ 40,000.
Mohammad Mithun sparked a fierce bidding war, with his value rising from Tk 22 lakh (approx. US$ 18k) to Tk 52 lakh (approx. US$ 42.6k). Emerging talent Abdul Gaffar Saqlain saw his price climb from Tk 18 lakh (approx. US$ 14.8k) to 44 lakh (approx. US$ 36k), while SM Meherob Hasan was acquired for Tk 39 lakh (approx. US$ 32k).
On the international front, Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka was the highest-paid overseas player, going to Dhaka Capitals for US$ 55,000. Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella were signed at their Category A base prices of US$ 35,000 by Chittagong Royals and Sylhet Titans, respectively.
Six teams gear up for BPL 2026
The 2026 edition of the BPL will feature six franchises: Dhaka Capitals, Rangpur Riders, Rajshahi Warriors, Noakhali Express, Sylhet Titans, and Chittagong Royals. The tournament is scheduled to run from December 26 to January 23.
With blockbuster signings, last-minute turnarounds, and strategic gambles, the return to the auction format has already set the stage for a fiercely competitive BPL season.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cricexec.com ’
