The action has already started! The ninth edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) kicked off on January 6.

Before it’s to late, let us have a look at the squads participating this year and what to expect from the teams.

There are several changes in the ownership of the teams this year too. But, on a positive note, after detailed evaluation and assessment of the Expression of Interest (EoI) documents submitted by prospective owners, the BPL Governing Council handed over Franchise Ownership Rights for the next three (9th, 10th & 11th) editions of the tournament to seven parties.

Delta Sports Limited to conduct Chattogram Challengers, Cumilla Victorians to Comilla Legends Limited, Fortune Barishal Sports Limited to Fortune Barishal, Progoti Green Auto Rice Mills Limited to Dhaka Dominators, Mindtree Limited to Khulna, Future Sports Bangladesh Limited to Sylhet Strikers and Toggi Sports Limited (Bashundhara Group) to Rangpur Riders.

The players were distributed in the teams after a draft was conducted on November 23, last year.

Chattogram Challengers

Afif Hossain,
Biswa Fernando (Sri Lanka),
Ashan Priyanjan (Sri Lanka),
Curtis Camper (Ireland),
Max O’Dowd (Netherlands),
Unmukt Chand (India/USA),
Mritunjoy Chowdhury,
Shubhagat Hom Chowdhury,
Mehedi Hasan Rana,
Irfan Sukkur,
Mehdi Maruf,
Ziaur Rahman,
Taijul Islam,
Abu Zayed Rahi,
Farhad Reza,
Taufiq Khan Tushar.

Chattogram Challengers formed their squad with 16 players along with 5 foreign recruits. Unmukt Chand was the surprise signing of all the players. He became the first ever Indian player to take part in the history of BPL.

However, the team lacks behind in paper obviously. They need new stars and a big bite of luck going forward.

Comilla Victorians

Mustafizur Rahman,
Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan),
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan),
Hasan Ali (Pakistan),
Khushdil Shah (Pakistan),
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan),
Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan),
Shaun Williams (Zimbabwe),
Chadwick Walton (West Indies),
Liton Kumar Das,
Mosaddek Hossain Saikat,
Tanveer Islam,
Imrul Kayes,
Ashikuzzaman,
Zaker Ali Anik,
Saikat Ali,
Abu Hyder Roni,
Naeem Hasan,
Mukidul Islam.

3 times BPL winner Comilla Victorians seem to spend a huge amount of money this season, as they have bought star players like Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nabi and Chadwick Walton. They have 19 players on their squad along with 8 foreign recruits. Among the local stars are- Liton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Mosaddek Saikat and Abu Hyder Roni. Definitely, the team management have done their homework very well, at least before getting on the field.

Fortune Barishal

Shakib Al Hasan,
Iftekhar Ahmed (Pakistan),
Mohammad Wasim Jr (Pakistan),
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan),
Karim Janat (Afghanistan),
Usman Qadir (Pakistan),
Rahkeem Cornwell (West Indies),
Kesrick Williams (West Indies ),
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan),
Haider Ali (Pakistan),
Chaturanga de Silva (Sri Lanka),
Mahmudullah Riyad,
Mehidy Hasan Miraz,
Ibadot Hossain,
Enamul Haque Bijoy,
Kamrul Islam Rabbi,
Fazle Mahmud Rabbi,
Syed Khaled Ahmed,
Saif Hasan,
Kazi Anik,
Sanjamul Islam,
Salman Hossain.

From Shakib Al Hasan to Mahmudullah Riyad, they have made a team with a mix of experienced and young players consisting of 22 cricketers. Among them, 10 players are foreign recruits with the likes of in form Iftikhar Ahmed, Karim Janat, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahkeem Cornwall.

Dhaka Dominators

Taskin Ahmed,
Chamika Karunaratne (Sri Lanka),
Dilshan Munaweera (Sri Lanka),
Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan),
Usman Ghani (Afghanistan),
Salman Ershad (Pakistan),

Shaan Masood, (Pakistan)

Ahmad Shahzad, (Afghanistan)

Salman Irshad, (Pakistan)

Mohammad Mithun,
Soumya Sarkar,
Shoriful Islam,
Arafat Sunny,
Nasir Hossain,
Al Amin Hossain,
Alok Kapali,
Monir Hossain Khan,
Ariful Haque,
Muktar Ali,
Mizanur Rahman,
Delwar Hossain

Dhaka Dominators bought a total of 22 players and five of them were foreign players.

However, the squad suggests that, they have roped in for local stars rather than foreigners. Taskin Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Nasir Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Alok Kapali, Arafat Sunny will be seen wearing Dhaka jerseys.

Khulna Tigers

Tamim Iqbal,
Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka),
Wahab Riaz (Pakistan),
Naseem Shah (Pakistan),
Azam Khan (Pakistan),
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka),
Paul Van Meekeren (Sri Lanka),
Mohammad Saifuddin,
Yasir Ali Chowdhury,
Nasum Ahmed,
Nahidul Islam,
Munim Shahriar,
Sabbir Rahman,
Shafiqul Islam,
Pritam Kumar,
Habibur Rahman Sohan,
Mahmudul Hasan Joy.

Registered in 2012, previously known as Khulna Titans, the franchise is yet to win a tournament. This year they have created a team with 11 local and 6 foreign players. The team has the mix of experience with the youngstars, with the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Wahab Riaz, Azam Khan, Dasun Shanaka, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin will be seen wearing the Comilla shirt.

Sylhet Strikers

Mashrafe bin Mortaza,
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan),
Mohammad Haris (Pakistan),
Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe),
Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka),
Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka),
Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka).
Tom Moores (England)
Gulbadin Naib (Afghanistan)
Mushfiqur Rahim,
Nazmul Hossain Shanto,
Rezaur Rahman Raja,
Nabeel Samad,
Tawhid Hridoy,
Rubel Hossain,
Zakir Hasan,
Nazmul Islam Apu,
Akbar Ali,
Mohammad Sharifullah,
Tanjim Hasan Shakib.

They made 20 man squad keeping Mashrafe bin Mortaza as the captain. However, they have spent most of their money on foreign players. Mohammad Amir, Thisara Perera, Mushfiqur Rahim, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hasan Apu all will be featuring for the Strikers.

Rangpur Riders

Nurul Hasan Sohan,
Shoaib Malik (Pakistan),
Pathum Nishanka (Sri Lanka),
Haris Rauf (Pakistan),
Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan),
Jeffrey Vandersee (Sri Lanka),
Sikandar Raja (Zimbabwe),
Azmatullah Omurzai (Afghanistan),
Aaron Jones (USA),
Sheikh Mahedi Hasan,
Hasan Mahmud,
Naeem Sheikh,
Rakibul Hasan,
Shamim Patwari,
Ripon Mondal.
Roni Talukder,
Parvez Hussain Imon,
Rabiul Haque,
Alauddin Babu.

Won the 5th edition of BPL by defeating Dhaka Dynamites in the final, Rangpur Riders emphasized spending for the top-level foreign player and some familiar Bangladeshi players. They have bought a total of 19 players including 8 foreign recruits.

Having said all of that, cricket is called the game of glorious uncertainty. Can the monster on the papers can lift the crown or any other team will wear that? Do not forget to mention your favourite team, on our comment section.

You can also have a look at the what to expect from Bangladesh Cricket Team in 2022. Click here to read.