Shakib signs for Gazi Tank Cricketers

Shakib Al Hasan signed for Gazi Tank Cricketers on Thursday, the second and final day of the 2014-15 Dhaka Premier League players' transfer window. After some deliberation within the BCB, he was given the green signal to sign for his club of choice like the rest of the players.

The resolution brings to an end the three-day debate over whether Shakib would be considered a national pool player in the transfers. As in previous seasons, the BCB had set aside a group of players who had played international cricket this year. Earlier this month, the Dhaka Premier League clubs chose up to three players each from this "national pool" but Shakib at the time was suspended so could not take part in the transfers.

On Wednesday, the opening day of the normal transfer window, the tournament's organising committee, the CCDM, was unsure whether to add Shakib to the pool and had asked the BCB to take a call on the matter. There was talk of having a special lottery to sell Shakib's services at a price of Tk 40 lakh among clubs who had not selected a national pool player for the season. But it is understood that when Gazi Tank confirmed to the board their advance payment to Shakib months ago, it smoothened the process overnight.

"The CEO [Nizamuddin Chowdhury] called me today to say that I can do my transfer like all the other cricketers," Shakib later told reporters. "This is completely the board's decision and they would never want something bad for a player. It was a normal decision. Since I was suspended, I wasn't in the national pool so it created complications. I think it was resolved through discussions."

Apart from Shakib, 133 other cricketers completed transfers during the two-day window. The 2014-15 Dhaka Premier League is scheduled to begin in October.