Will Mashrafe-Shakib play in BPL 2025

Will Mashrafe-Shakib play in BPL 2025

Big names have not been less associated with BPL so far. Chris Gayle, a one-time T20 peddler, was a regular face in Bangladesh's franchise cricket tournament. Shahid Afridi used to be one of the most sought-after faces in this tournament. Apart from this, many international star cricketers who are passionate about franchise cricket have also colored the BPL.

In the context of Bangladesh, the biggest faces of the BPL since 2012 have to be said to be the country's two cricket stars Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan. At one time, it was a rule for Mashrafe's team to become champions.

Captain Mashrafe has won the trophy in four of the first five BPLs. Shakib Al Hasan was in the champion team twice. He was the best of the tournament four times. Shakib-Mashrafe can be said to be one of the magnetic forces of BPL, combining personal performance and controversies.

(Mashrafe Bin Mortaza-Shakib Al Hasan political identity has become bigger than their cricketer identity. Both were members of parliament of the ousted Awami League. )

The BPL will miss these two star cricketers a lot this time. Those who have been its shadow since the tournament's birth, the 11th BPL starting from December 30 is probably going to be held without them.

The word 'probably' is added mainly to be risk-free. If Shakib-Mashrafe Bin Mortaza miraculously play this BPL too! But the reality is that neither of them is likely to play in the upcoming BPL due to the country's changing political situation.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza Rangpur Riders and Shakib Al Hasan Dhaka Dynamites faced each other in the 2017 BPL final

Their political identity has become bigger than their cricketer identity. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan were members of parliament of the Awami League. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in the student-public uprising, both of them became inactive in Bangladeshi cricket. Their names are involved in murder and sabotage cases.

It is said that Mashrafe is still in the country, Shakib Al Hasan is not able to come. Due to security reasons, his wish to play the last Test at home was not fulfilled, and he did not play in the West Indies tour either. The BCB has no objection to either of them playing in the BPL. It is also being said that playing in the BPL or not depends on Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe's personal decisions. However, in the current situation, there is no reason for the BPL environment to be favorable to their play.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who is in the Sylhet Strikers team, has not been involved in any game, practice, or fitness training for a long time. This time, Shakib Al Hasan, who is in the Chittagong Kings, is in trouble with his bowling action even though he is playing in a foreign franchise league. After questions were raised about his action in the English county, his action was found to be faulty in the test given at Loughborough University in Birmingham on December 2. Shakib Al Hasan last took the bowling action test for the second time in Chennai, India on December 21. The report is expected to be received in a day or two.

Even if there were problems with his bowling action, Shakib Al Hasan could have played only as a batsman in the BPL if he wanted. But in the current situation, he himself does not seem to be thinking about it. Chittagong Kings owner Samir Quader Chowdhury, however, is not giving up hope just yet. Today, he told Prothom Alo on his mobile phone, 'We are optimistic that we will get Shakib Al Hasan. I would still say his chances of playing are fifty-fifty.' Even after trying to contact Shakib-Mashrafi on his mobile phone, they could not be reached.

Without Shakib Al Hasan-Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, however, preparations for the 11th BPL are now in the final stages. The teams are officially taking to the field for practice from tomorrow. Foreign cricketers are also starting to arrive. As Fortune Barisal announced in a notice, their team's Afghan cricketer Mohammad Nabi will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow night