As anticipation builds for the IPL 2024 auction scheduled for December 19, the fate of three prominent Bangladeshi pacers – Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam – hangs in the balance. While the players gear up for the auction, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to make a definitive decision on whether to release them for the entire IPL season.
With Mustafizur commanding a base price of INR 2 Crore, and Taskin and Shoriful priced at INR 75 Lakh and INR 50 Lakh respectively, their IPL participation remains uncertain. The BCB is carefully considering potential conflicts with the national team’s schedule and the impending World T20 tournament.
BCB Cricket Operation Chairman Jalal Yunus emphasized the board’s cautious approach, stating, “If the IPL conflicts with our national team, in that case, their chances are very slim to play the full tournament. Furthermore, there is the World T20 in June, and we want to be careful in handling them as we need to think about their injury management, and for that reason, we want to take steps by taking everything into consideration.”
The IPL 2024, slated to commence on March 24, 2024, coincides with Bangladesh’s home series against Sri Lanka, presenting a scheduling dilemma for the cricket board. The BCB aims to carefully manage its premier players to strike a balance between national and franchise cricket commitments.
Jalal Yunus also highlighted the potential disappointment faced by Taskin Ahmed if he is not picked due to unavailability for the entire season. In IPL 2022, Taskin missed out on playing for Lucknow Super Giants as the BCB did not release him despite the franchise’s interest.
The cautious stance adopted by the BCB is in line with past instances of denying NOCs (No Objection Certificates) for various cricketing events. Taskin’s previous refusal of an offer from Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League and the denial of an English County stint last season underscore the board’s commitment to prioritizing national interests and player well-being.
