Mahmudullah first Icon player picked in DPL draft

Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh allrounder, was the first pick in the player by choice draft for the Dhaka Premier League. He was acquired by Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who had won the lottery to determine which Dhaka club would get the first pick of the top 13 cricketers in the country. The tournament is due to begin on April 22.

Defending champions Prime Bank Cricket Club chose batsman Sabbir Rahman, while Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club took allrounder Nasir Hossain. Abahani, the 17-time champions, went for Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, who will join the team after his IPL stint with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Mustafizur Rahman was the last player picked in the draft, perhaps because he won't be available to play until July-August. The left-arm seamer will first finish his IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad and then travel to the UK for the NatWest T20 Blast before joining Mohammaden Sporting Club.

Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim also went to Mohammaden, Mominul Haque to Victoria Sporting Club, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun to Legends of Rupganj, Anamul Haque to Gazi Group, Mashrafe Mortaza to Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Imrul Kayes to Brothers Union.

Only Kalabagan Cricket Academy and Cricket Coaching School passed the chance to pick players from the top two categories.

Players in the Icon category will get Tk 30 lakh, while those in the A+ category will be paid Tk 25 lakh for the entire season. Earlier, each club picked a minimum of 10 cricketers from seven categories over 13 rounds. Each club can also register as many overseas players as they want, but can only field one per game.