The second phase of inter-club players’ transfer took a new twist on Tuesday after the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis decided to put Sakib al Hasan in auction instead of allowing him to the team of his choice. The decision came shortly after the Bangladesh Cricket Board decided to lift Sakib’s six-month ban from September 15, making him available for the forthcoming Dhaka Premier League beginning sometime in October.
The BCB has also allowed Sakib to participate in the second-phase of the transfer window, which will begin today at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Sakib was expected to join Gazi Tank Cricketers, who had earlier announced to make him their captain for the season.
Defending champions Gazi also kept a place of their national pool players open for Sakib hoping that his ban would be lifted.
But CCDM chairman AZM Nasir said Sakib will put into auction with a base price of Tk 40 lakh and the clubs who are yet to sign any pool players will get the first preference.
Sakib, whose six-month suspension was withdrawn and would be available for the league was certain to join the Gazi Tank Cricketers for a whopping Tk 50 lakh.
Now with the applied new clause, he would still have a chance to play for Gazi Tank provided teams who are yet to register a player didn’t show any interest on him like Brothers Union and newcomers Old DOHS and Partex.
‘Teams without any pool players will have the first right on him,’ Nasir told reporters.
‘If they don’t show any interest only then he can he play for Gazi.’
There were no immediate reaction from Gazi, who reportedly paid Sakib Tk 50 lakh for his services. Sources said that the club sensed that something like this could happen to Sakib and thus have kept an alternative plan.
If they don’t get Sakib finally, all-rounder Sabbir Rahman can fill the slot, said the club sources. Sabbir took his token during the first phase of the league but did not submit it to any club.
He was otherwise expected to join Kalabagan Cricket Academy, a club that has a strong link with Gazi after a changeover in the ownership last month.
Gazi are also at loggerheads with Prime Bank Cricket Academy for young wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, who allegedly accepted money from both clubs.
Gazi demanded that they had paid Nurul Tk 18 lakh in advance and now the player is trying to play for Prime Bank by returning the money.
They were set to produce some documents in front of the hearing that includes video recording of his taking payment as well as their telephone recording.
Nurul admitted that he had taken the money for the last edition of the league when he could not play for the side because of a player-by-choice transfer system.
‘Yes, I took the money but that was for the last league. Now I want to return the money, but they are not accepting it,’ Nurul told New Age.
It was learnt that Sohag Gazi and Arafat Sunny, the two pool players who did not find a team during the first phase may now join Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi club.
-With New Age input
