The Bangladesh Premier League featured some of Pakistan’s top players and some upcoming talents in the 2024 season. Here’s how each of them fared.
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Babar Azam – Rangpur Riders
251 runs @ 50.2, HS: 62, SR: 114.61
The leading wicket-taker in BPL 2024 when he exited the tournament, Babar hit two half-centuries and played a key role in their run to the top of the table. The strike rate invited debate.
Mohammad Rizwan – Comilla Victorians
85 runs @ 21.25, HS: 21, SR: 82.52
A forgettable outing for Pakistan’s second-highest run-getter in T20Is. Retained by the Victorians, Rizwan managed a high score of just 21 from five games opening the batting. The worrying bit? A strike rate of 82.
Khushdil Shah – Comilla Victorians
65 runs @ 13, HS: 21, SR: 144.44
Rizwan’s teammate at Victorians, Khushdil batted at No.5, generating quick cameos at the backend of innings. Pushed to No.7 in one of them games, he managed a 22-ball 21.
Saim Ayub – Duronto Dhaka
77 runs @ 15.4, HS: 35, SR: 95.06
The Pakistan sensation, playing his debut BPL season, had a forgettable outing, averaging 15 with a strike rate of 95. After being tried out as an opener, Ayub was moved to No.3, where he managed a two-ball eight.
Ahmed Shehzad – Fortune Barishal
155 runs @ 25.83. HS: 66, SR: 143.51
After Babar, Shehzad scored the second-most runs from a Pakistan player, rediscovering some of his old form. The bulk of those runs came in a 41-ball 66 while opening the batting, and a 39 off 13 before that.
Shoaib Malik – Fortune Barishal
113 runs @ 56.5, HS: 41*, SR: 131.39, 3 wickets @ 22, BBI: 2-24, ER: 9.42
It was an eventful entry for Malik, who played his first BPL 2024 game the day he made his wedding public. There were shades of the Malik of old, including an unbeaten 25-ball 41 in a 156-run chase, but also encountered controversy following his three front-foot no-balls in the same over.
Abbas Afridi – Fortune Barishal
2 wickets @ 54.5, ER: 9.08, BBI: 1-26
Abbas Afridi had a brief stay in the BPL for Fortune Barishal, operating first-change for the franchise in three games. He picked up two wickets in three games, and conceded over 40 twice.
Mohammad Nawaz – Khulna Tigers
5 wickets @ 16.4, ER: 6.83, BBI: 3-15; 100 runs @ 50, HS: 55, SR: 142.85
The all-rounder had a mixed bag with the ball, claiming five wickets in his first two outings, but wicketless thrice thereafter. With the bat, he starred twice, smashing 55 off 34 and 38* off 23 from No.6.
Faheem Ashraf – Khulna Tigers
8 wickets @ 12.75, ER: 6.37, BBI: 3-18; 60 runs @ 30, HS: 32, SR: 176.47
The all-rounder was nifty with the ball, twice picking up a three-wicket haul in a short four-match stint. In a limited role with the bat, he smashed 32 off 13 from No.9 in one of the games.
Mohammad Imran – Fortune Barishal
10 wickets @ 18.8, ER: 8.74, BBI: 4-29
The uncapped speedster ended as the second-highest wicket-taker for Barishal in his debut BPL season – albeit a tad expensive – picking up a wicket off his first ball in the tournament with a yorker.
Aamer Jamal – Comilla Victorians
6 wickets @ 10.33, ER: 6.52, BBI: 5-23
Another fast-bowling talent, Jamal played just three matches but made his presence felt, picking up a five-wicket haul against the Khulna Tigers in a Player of the Match performance.
Mohammad Wasim – Khulna Tigers
5 wickets @ 23.4, ER: 7.46, BBI: 2-13
The Pakistan quick played four games and was typically neat with the new ball, picking up four wickets from his first two games. In the next two, he conceded a combined 73 runs with just one wicket to show.
Usman Qadir – Duronto Dhaka
4 wickets @ 27.5, ER: 5.78, BBI: 2-16
The leggie played five matches, and while he did not run through sides, the economy rate remained commendable. He didn’t concede more than 20 in three out of the five games.
Mohammad Irfan – Duronto Dhaka
1 wicket @ 24, BBI: 1-24, ER: 8.47
41-year-old Irfan, once a regular in the Pakistan attack, featured in a solitary game, picking up one wicket.
Salman Irshad – Rangpur Riders
2 wickets @ 16, BBI: 2-17, ER: 8
The 28-year-old uncapped Pakistan seamer, who has featured previously in the PSL, made two appearances, picking up 2-17 in his second outing.
The following players were picked in the draft but did not play the tournament:
Ihsanullah, Zaman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir
