A star-studded influx has hit the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) playoffs, with eliminated ILT20 players from the UAE joining the action. James Vince, Tim David, and Shimron Hetmyer arrived from Gulf Giants, while Andre Russell and Jason Holder made their way from Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.
All five were in action during Monday’s eliminator—David, Russell, and Vince turning out for Rangpur Riders, while Khulna Tigers added Hetmyer and Holder to their lineup. Kyle Mayers is also set to return to Fortune Barishal after his ILT20 stint.
The arrival of these T20 A-listers is a timely boost for a tournament marred by controversies over corruption allegations and salary disputes. However, it also highlights the chaotic nature of the T20 circuit, where players seamlessly switch between leagues in the same window. Vince, for instance, featured in the Big Bash League before moving to the ILT20 and now the BPL.
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Despite the hype, the big names didn’t have the best start in the eliminator. A mix-up saw Vince involved in Soumya Sarkar’s run-out before falling for just one himself. David and Russell also struggled, scoring 7 and 4, respectively.
The BPL has lacked major international stars this season, with only a handful like Alex Hales, Shaheen Afridi, Jason Roy, and Reece Topley making brief appearances. Critics have pointed to an abundance of lesser-known overseas players, but the late arrival of marquee names could add much-needed credibility to the tournament.
