For a long time, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman were the only regular Bangladeshi players in various global T20 leagues, until Rishad Hossain recently joined them by featuring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Big Bash League (BBL).
Despite this progress, opportunities for other Bangladeshi players have been limited due to inconsistent performances and a lack of confidence stemming from previous underwhelming outings by their compatriots.
However, the ongoing PSL marks a significant change in this trend. The tournament, commencing at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, will see six Bangladeshi players participating – the highest number from the country in a single overseas franchise league.
Mustafizur and Parvez Hossain Emon will play for Lahore Qalandars, while Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, and Tanzid Hasan Tamim will represent Peshawar Zalmi. Rishad is set to join Rawalpindi Pindiz.
All players have already linked up with their respective teams after receiving partial NOCs and government approval.
For Tanzid and Emon, this will be their first taste of overseas franchise cricket. Shoriful has prior experience in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and various T10 competitions, while Nahid was part of a previous PSL but did not feature in any matches.
Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, the Chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) cricket operations, believes that this exposure will be crucial for the players’ development.
Fahim emphasized the difference between playing at home in familiar conditions versus performing in unfamiliar environments with new teams, crowds, and added pressure. He mentioned that professionalism and accountability come into play in such situations, which cannot be fully replicated in domestic cricket.
Improved performances in global leagues could potentially open more doors for Bangladeshi cricketers, Fahim added. He expressed hope that the current group of six players participating in the PSL would pave the way for more Bangladeshi players in the future.
Hannan Sarkar, a former national cricketer and coach, attributed the rise in Bangladeshi players in overseas leagues to recent improvements in domestic cricket conditions. He highlighted that better wickets and the performance in domestic leagues have caught the attention of franchise teams.
While past players like Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, and Litton Das have featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and others like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur Rahim have had stints in the PSL, long-term success has been limited.
With a new generation of players now getting opportunities in global leagues, Bangladesh’s cricket fraternity remains hopeful that these players will make the most of their chances.
