Two of Bangladesh’s most senior cricketers, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim, were eventually signed by BPL franchises Rangpur Riders and Rajshahi Warriors, respectively, at their base price of Tk35 lakh from Category B, after initially going unsold in the first round of Sunday’s auction in Dhaka.

In recognition of their long-standing contributions, the Rangpur Riders CEO requested the governing committee not to downgrade their player category, in accordance with the rules.

Under the regulations, players form category B, who go unsold in the first round, are usually moved down to Category C, which reduces their base price. However, both franchises chose to sign Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur without lowering their category or price as a mark of respect for the veteran duo.

The local players’ auction also saw competitive bids, with Mohammad Naim Sheikh emerging as the most expensive Bangladeshi pick of the day. Chattogram Royals acquired the left-handed opener for Tk1.1 crore, the highest bid for a local player in this edition.