Ahead of the tenth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), all eight of the league’s franchises had to release the players that they were no longer interested in keeping.

With the deadline for the release of players expiring on December 15, it was confirmed that both players from Bangladesh who had taken part in last season’s IPL -- Kolkata Knight Riders’ Shakib Al Hasan and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Mustafizur Rahman -- would continue to represent those sides going forward.

The move does not come as a surprise, but it was certainly welcome as many big name players such as Jason Holder, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Eoin Morgan have been axed from their respective teams.

The tenth season of the IPL is likely to begin in early April.