Shoriful, Taskin, Tanzid steal the show at auction

Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam emerged as the most expensive player at the D-3 Tournament auction, securing a deal worth 2.30 crore points with Citizens Bank. Pacer Taskin Ahmed went to Walton Group for 2.10 crore points, while batter Tanzid Hasan Tamim was the most expensive batter, joining Fortune Group for two crore points.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held the auction for its new tournament at a luxury hotel in the capital on Monday. The D-3 Tournament will feature six teams competing across three formats, with all squads assembled through an auction.
A total of 275 cricketers were listed, of whom 132 secured teams. However, pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who has been out of competitive cricket for an extended period due to injury, went unsold. Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi and Arafat Sunny also failed to attract bids.
The franchise-based tournament has been introduced to reduce the BCB's financial subsidies for domestic cricket. Each of the six franchise owners had to pay Tk2.5 crore to the board for ownership.
In return, the BCB will cover all team operating expenses, including players' match fees, daily allowances, travel, accommodation and meals. Franchise owners have already selected their coaching staff and icon players, and the teams will retain the same squads for the next three years.
The tournament will feature a T20 competition, a one-day competition and a four-day competition. Players will receive Tk1.5 lakh per first-class match, Tk1 lakh per one-day match and Tk80,000 per T20 match.
Despite equal match fees for all players, the BCB opted for an auction instead of a draft to generate interest and give players greater visibility through their valuations.
Players were divided into five categories, with base prices of 40 lakh points for Category A, 30 lakh for Category B, 20 lakh for Category C, 10 lakh for Category D and five lakh for Category E. Each team had a maximum budget of 10 crore points to build its squad.
Shoriful, who was in Category A, attracted the fiercest bidding before Citizens Bank secured his services for 2.30 crore points. Taskin also sparked intense competition before Walton Group signed him for 2.10 crore points.
Tanzid, a key opener for Bangladesh across all three formats, topped the bidding among batters at two crore points, joining Fortune Group.
Indian commentator, presenter and quiz host Charu Sharma conducted the auction. T20 cricket appeared to have the greatest influence on the franchises' choices, with teams showing more interest in established limited-overs players than in those primarily known for first-class cricket.
Squads of the six teams
Fortune Group: Towhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Tanvir Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, Mushfiq Hasan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Akbar Ali, Mohammad Abdullah, Enamul Haque Ashik, Shadhin Islam, Shamim Mia, Nuhaiel Sandid, Mohammad Hossain, Niloy Ranjan Shil, Saikat Ali, Hafizur Rahman and Islamul Ahsan Abir.
Walton Group: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Marshall Ayub, Nasum Ahmed, Ariful Islam, Rony Talukdar, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Nahidul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Rezaur Rahman Raja, Ziaur Rahman, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Samiun Basir Ratul, Chowdhury Mohammad Rizwan, SM Meherab Hossain, Imranuzzaman, Asaduzzaman Payel, Naim Ahmed, Robiul Hasan Anik, Robiul Islam Robi and Rakib Howlader.
Blue Star: Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Enamul Haque Bijoy, Afif Hossain, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Iftikhar Hossain Ifti, Mahfijul Islam Robin, Abu Hashim, Abu Hider Rony, Sadikur Rahman, Kalam Siddiqui Alin, Safar Ali, Yasin Hossain, Rahim Ahmed, Anamul Haque Anam, Azizul Hakim Rony, Abdur Rahim, Adil Bin Siddique and Shahadat Rahman Samrat.
Seven Rings Cement: Mushfiqur Rahim, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaled Ahmed, Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Shamim Hossain Patwari, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Irfan Hossain, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Mrityunjoy Chowdhury, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi, Anisul Islam Emon, Anamul Haque, Debashish Sarkar, Asadullah Hill Galib, Rafiuzzaman Rafi, Rizan Hossain, Ryan Rafsan Rahman, Tafsir Arafat Tasib, Farhan Sadik and Abdullah Al Mumin.
Acme Group: Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Abdul Gaffar Saklain, Naim Hasan, Aliss Al Islam, Mohammad Rubel, Amite Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Rakibul Hasan, Ripon Mondol, Mukidul Islam Mugdha, Mahmudullah Riyad, Khalid Hasan, Jawad Abrar, Maruf Mridha, Yasin Mia, Mohammad Ashraful Hasan, Sabbir Hossain, Ruel Mia, Ahrar Amin Piyan, Al-Amin Rony and Anik Sarkar.
Citizens Bank: Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Saif Hassan, Jaker Ali, Shariful Islam, Hasan Murad, Yasir Ali Rabbi, Sumon Khan, Azizul Hakim Tamim, Jisan Alam, Taibur Rahman Parvez, Aminul Islam Biplob, Shuvagata Hom, Shafiqul Islam, Irfan Shukkur, Tofayel Hasan, Al Fahad, Moin Khan, Arif Ahmed, Leon Islam, Ashikuzzaman, Abdullah Al Muhi, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Anik Debbarma and Humayan Ahmed.