APL Draft: Shakib Al Hasan and Nahid Rana Picked in Diamond Category, 28 Bangladeshi Players Still Waiting

Dubai: Two Bangladeshi players have found teams in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) draft — Shakib Al Hasan and Nahid Rana. Both were picked in the Diamond category. Shakib was signed by Nangahar Cosmic and Nahid Rana by Team Paktiya. The draft was held in Dubai, a neutral administrative venue — meaning this was not a match, but a player acquisition event.

This phase of the draft is notable because a total of 30 players from Bangladesh had registered for the league, but only two have found teams so far. The future of the remaining 28 players remains undecided. Under the draft's tier system, there are four levels: Platinum, Diamond, Gold, and Silver. The largest group of Bangladeshi players is in the Gold category — 13 players. There are 7 in Silver and 5 in Diamond. There are also 5 in Platinum, but that list has not been made public yet.

Shakib Al Hasan being picked in the Diamond category signals that franchises still value his all-rounder package. An all-rounder gives a team a double advantage — batting depth and a four-over bowling quota. But it is worth noting that Shakib is in Diamond, not Platinum. Platinum is usually reserved for the biggest marquee names. A Diamond placement suggests franchises have taken a cautious approach given his age and workload. This is not a pure quality ranking, but a market assessment.

As for Nahid Rana, he is a young fast bowler. His placement alongside Shakib in the Diamond category shows that franchises are betting on his "future potential." Genuine pace is a scarce asset and franchise cricket has a perpetual appetite for it. But it is also true that young fast bowlers can struggle to handle pressure and sustain performance over time — this can be a risky bet. His placement in the draft indicates the market views him as a "potential star," not a "proven star."

The biggest question now is: what happens to the remaining 28 Bangladeshi players? The draft process is not yet complete. Gold and Silver category selections are still pending. Gold has 13 players — the largest group. If most of them go unpicked, it would be a disappointing signal. On the other hand, if several get opportunities, it would be positive news for Bangladeshi cricket.

Another important aspect is the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) No Objection Certificate (NOC). Players need permission from their board to play in overseas leagues. Thirty players registering for a foreign league at once shows that Bangladeshi players are actively seeking overseas league experience and income opportunities. But at the same time, questions can arise regarding the busy calendar, workload, and NOC. This aspect is not covered in this report, but it could become a major issue in the future.

The APL draft being held in Dubai is also a significant signal. An Afghan league being staged at a neutral venue shows that league management is taking a flexible approach to logistics and political challenges. This is not a controversy, but an operational feature.

A big question also remains — is the APL currently active? This report does not confirm the league's current status. There is a need for clarity regarding franchise names and the league's operational cycle. If the league is not active, these picks could be merely on paper. Therefore, independent verification of these facts is necessary before drawing any conclusions.

On the other hand, from a cricketing perspective — Shakib and Nahid have different risk profiles. Shakib is a veteran all-rounder whose workload is doubled — batting and bowling. With age, the risk of injury increases. Nahid is young, but maintaining consistency is challenging for young fast bowlers. In both cases, franchises will need to make careful decisions about their investment.

The registration of 30 Bangladeshi players is itself a major signal. It shows that South Asian players no longer want to be confined to their domestic league or national team alone. They are seeking new avenues for identity and income in foreign leagues. This is a slow but steadily growing trend.

The biggest limitation of this draft is that no player's salary or price has been disclosed. The category (Platinum, Diamond) is merely a relative ranking. It cannot be said how much Shakib was paid or how much Nahid was paid. Therefore, talk of "expensive buy" or "cheap buy" without data is pure speculation.

Another point — Shakib being picked in Diamond will be read in Bangladeshi media as "the star is still in demand." But without salary data, this claim is incomplete. Diamond is below Platinum — that in itself signals a cautious valuation.

Moving toward a conclusion — this draft is a routine industry brief confirming two selections. But the real story is yet to come — the Gold and Silver category results. If several Bangladeshi players get opportunities from there, it will be a positive signal. If not, questions will arise about how much demand there is for Bangladeshi players in foreign leagues.

What to watch next: The remaining APL draft rounds, BCB's NOC policy, and the league's current operational status. The answers to these three will determine the direction of this entire story.