If players have ability, they will get picked: Fahim on Bangladesh players getting snubbed in IPL auction

In his take about why Bangladesh players got snubbed in the Indian Premier League auction earlier this week, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim underlined that quality and the ability to perform would take precedence in franchises picking players.

Fahim pointed out the contrast between Bangladesh players and Afghanistan players, many of whom have managed to become high-quality and indispensable performers, especially in franchise cricket.

"I personally feel sad. I judge our standard in a pretty straightforward way. If we get a place on the global stage, we are good and if we don't, then we are bad. We can't force players into franchise leagues. If the players have the ability, they will get picked," Fahim said on Wednesday.

"We had opportunities the last year and the one before, but we couldn't. I think we should try to utilise these opportunities. Afghanistan have brought their players to this stage and their numbers are increasing while we are regressing."

Twelve Bangladesh players, including Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, put their names in the auction on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah but none got picked, meaning that the upcoming edition of the IPL will not feature a Bangladesh player for the first time since 2020. 

Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh cricketer to get picked in the last edition's auction. He played nine matches for the Chennai Super Kings, taking 14 wickets at an economy rate of 9.26.