On Saturday, Pakistan’s star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi came in Dhaka for the 11th Bangladesh Premier League. Left-arm pacer will play for defending champions Fortune Barishal in his first T20 event. His teammates include Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, youngster Jahandad Khan, and pacer Muhammad Ali.
The tournament start at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on December 30 will feature newcomers Durbar Rajshahi. Fortune Barishal expressed enthusiasm at signing Shaheen directly in an official announcement.
“Pakistani left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will play for Fortune Barishal in the upcoming BPL,” the team said.
The franchise announced that the 24-year-old has received a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and will play the first five league matches. Seven teams—Dhaka Capitals, Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi, Fortune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Strikers—play in BPL 2024-25
Shaheen is unlikely to play in the home Test series against the West Indies after being pulled out of Pakistan’s two-match Test series against South Africa. The PCB highlighted “workload management” for his absence, emphasizing the need to be healthy for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
In a PCB release announcing the South Africa tour squads, “Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also missed the last two Tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,”
