Pakistan’s star fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has arrived in Dhaka to join the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Afridi will represent the defending champions, Fortune Barishal, marking his debut in the T20 tournament. He joins a squad that includes fellow Pakistani all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, rising star Jahandad Khan, and pacer Muhammad Ali. The team is set to face newcomers Durbar Rajshahi in the opening match of the tournament on December 30 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Fortune Barishal expressed their excitement over signing Afridi directly, stating, “Pakistani left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will play for Fortune Barishal in the upcoming BPL.”
At 24 years old, Afridi has received a no-objection certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and will be available for the first five matches of the league. The 2024-25 BPL features seven franchises: Dhaka Capitals, Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi, Fortune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Strikers, with the tournament running until February 7, 2025.
Afridi was excluded from Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing Test series against South Africa and is also expected to miss the home Test series against the West Indies. The PCB cited “workload management” as the reason for his omission, emphasizing the importance of maintaining his fitness for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
