The franchise auction can often resemble a lottery—unpredictable, fast-moving and occasionally baffling. A player’s price can skyrocket without warning, while others remain unsold despite strong credentials. Yet, in certain cases, the signs are visible well in advance. Such was the scenario surrounding Habibur Rahman in this year’s Bangladesh Premier League auction.
Teams had already anticipated that the young opener might attract interest, but few expected the bidding to escalate quite so dramatically. Placed in Category D with a base price of only eighteen lakh taka, Habibur was eventually snapped up by Noakhali Express for a remarkable fifty lakh. The franchise made their intentions clear: they were investing in proven performance.
And performance is precisely what has driven Habibur’s rapid rise. His exploits in the Rising Stars Asia Cup placed him firmly in the spotlight. He had been performing consistently in Bangladesh’s domestic T20 circuit for some time, but the Asia Cup was where he truly captured widespread attention.
During the tournament, Habibur finished as the third-highest run-scorer. Representing the Bangladesh A side, he smashed a hundred off just 35 balls against Hong Kong China—a record for the fastest T20 century by a Bangladeshi player. The previous national record was held by Parvez Hossain, who had reached triple figures in 42 balls during the 2020 Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
Habibur continued his impressive run in the semi-final, striking 65 against India A and closing the tournament with 228 runs across five matches at an average of 57. His strike rate, however, was the standout statistic: an explosive 182.40. His 21 sixes ranked as the second-highest tally in the competition.
His domestic form has been equally noteworthy. In the NCL T20 League, he scored 218 runs from seven matches at a strike rate exceeding 183, again finishing as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter. In the 2024 edition, he added 259 runs with 17 sixes, maintaining his reputation as a consistent ball-striker.
Despite these achievements, Habibur has not yet produced similar performances in previous BPL seasons, registering just 128 runs from 14 matches. Yet this year may prove different. His record-breaking Asia Cup century has provided him with renewed confidence, and Noakhali Express—having invested fifty lakh—will expect the young opener to unleash his full potential. Should he find his rhythm, the BPL may well welcome its next rising star.