The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction opened with immediate intrigue as the second name called was that of Liton Das, Bangladesh’s T20 captain and one of the most technically gifted batters in the country. Only a day earlier, Liton had produced a blistering half-century against Ireland, once again reminding everyone of his pedigree in the shortest format.
In the build-up to the auction, analysts widely predicted that several franchises would aggressively pursue Liton, given his experience, his leadership qualities, and his ability to open the innings with authority. Surprisingly, the bidding did not escalate into a fierce contest. Rangpur Riders moved in decisively and secured Liton for 7 million Taka, a figure considered extremely favourable for a player of his calibre.
Liton, who captained Comilla Victorians in the previous edition of the BPL, brings multiple assets to his new franchise. His wicketkeeping skill, his versatile stroke-play, and his calm presence as a leader all combine to make him one of the most complete T20 cricketers in the Bangladesh circuit. For Rangpur, signing him felt like striking a six in the very first over of the auction.
Their ambitions did not stop there. Moments after acquiring Liton, Rangpur won another competitive bidding battle—this time for Towhid Hridoy. Starting from a base price of 3.5 million Taka, Hridoy’s value soared before Rangpur secured him for an impressive 9.2 million Taka. Liton’s base price had stood at 5 million Taka under the ‘A’ category, but even then, Rangpur obtained him at a relatively modest figure compared to expectations.
Rangpur Riders had already strengthened their squad through direct signings prior to the auction, bringing in national team stars Mustafizur Rahman and Nurul Hasan Sohan. Among overseas signings, they had secured Khawaja Nafay and Sufiyan Muqeem, both known for their impactful T20 performances.
The acquisition of Liton and Hridoy indicates that Rangpur are preparing a strongly balanced squad with experience, aggression, and depth. With more rounds of the auction ahead, the franchise has already made one of the boldest statements of the season.
