The Indian Premier League (IPL) has announced the final list of players for its upcoming mini auction, and Bangladesh cricket fans have plenty to talk about. Out of 1,390 cricketers who initially registered for the auction, IPL authorities have shortlisted 350 players for the final event, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on 16 December.
Among these, seven Bangladeshi cricketers have secured a spot: Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzim Hasan, Rakibul Hasan, and Shariful Islam. Surprisingly, Shakib Al Hasan, who was initially listed, has not made it to the final auction roster, a development that has shocked cricket enthusiasts across the country.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the base price for players varies significantly. Of the registered cricketers, 45 were initially set at the maximum base price of 20 million Indian Rupees. However, after the final list was confirmed, this number has reduced to 40. Among them is Bangladesh’s premier pacer, Mustafizur Rahman. Other Bangladeshi players, including leg-spinning all-rounder Rishad Hossain, pacers Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan, and bowlers Nahid Rana and Shariful Islam, have base prices set at 7.5 million INR. Spinner Rakibul Hasan’s base price is 3 million INR, which has come as a surprising development for many.
Rakibul’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy. The left-arm spinner was a key member of Bangladesh’s victorious Under-19 World Cup team in 2020 and regularly plays for the Emerging squad, High-Performance squad, and Bangladesh ‘A’ team. Despite consistent domestic performances, he has yet to receive a call-up to the senior national team. In 69 T20 matches, he has claimed 69 wickets, boasting a best bowling figure of 3/7 and an economy rate of 6.90.
The final auction list also features 35 players selected based on franchise requests, including South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, George Linde, and Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva. Of the 350 cricketers in the final list, 240 are Indian while 110 are international players. A total of 77 slots are available in the auction, with 32 reserved for overseas players. The Kolkata Knight Riders have the highest budget allocation at 643 million INR, requiring the franchise to fill 13 slots, including six foreign players.
Among the top-base price players, two Indians—Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi—are set at 20 million INR. Nine players have a base price of 15 million, four at 12.5 million, 17 at 10 million, 42 at 7.5 million, four at 5 million, seven at 4 million, and a majority of 227 players at 3 million INR. Analysts predict that Australia’s all-rounder Cameron Green, registered as a batsman, could command the highest bid in this mini auction.
Notably, 224 of the 240 Indian players and 14 overseas cricketers are classified as ‘uncapped’. Players who have never represented their national team, last played international cricket more than five years ago, or have been absent from central contracts for five years are considered uncapped.
The IPL mini auction promises excitement, surprises, and record-breaking bids, particularly with the absence of Shakib and the inclusion of emerging talents like Rakibul Islam.