- Six Lankans in the fray
Acting Sri Lanka T20I captain Dasun Shanaka emerged as the highest overseas buy at the auction of the 12th edition of the 2026 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) held on Sunday (30 November), drawing a price of LKR 16 million (US$ 55,000) for Dhaka Capitals.
Shanaka who led Sri Lanka at the recently concluded T20I tri-series in Pakistan which also included Zimbabwe, and where the Lankans emerged runners-up, was also among seven Sri Lankan players who were bought at the auction.
The all-rounder who took over the reins following regular white-ball skipper Charith Asalanka’s sudden illness-induced absence, had previously turned out for four other franchises at the Bangladesh Premier League.
He had overall played 16 matches in the BPL, while he last represented Khulna Tigers in three games in 2024.
Shanaka, 34, who has plied his trade in a number of T20 franchise leagues the world over, is currently odds-on-favourite to lead Lanka’s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026.
The all-rounder had famously fallen out of favour with the Upul Tharanga-helmed national selection panel after the team’s embarrassing first-round exit from the 2023 ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup in India.
However, he has found a second wind being asked to lead the team in the concluded T20I tri-series in Pakistan after Asalanka’s was forced to return home citing illness, with the selectors yet undecided on whom to bank on to lead the co-hosts bid for World Cup glory in 2026.
Speculation has also been rife in cricketing circles that the left-hander had been sent home as punishment for voicing opinions which ran counter to SLC wishes, after he had been among a few SL players who had opposed remaining in Pakistan following a suicide blast in Islamabad.
Apart from Shanaka, two other top gun Lankan players sold at the BPL auction were ex-skipper Angelo Mathews (Sylhet Titans), wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella (Chattogram Royals), with the duo having commanded a price of Rs. 10 million (US$ 35,000).
Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha has been bought by BPL franchise Rajshahi Warriors for a reported sum ofRs. 7 million (US$ 25,000), while all-rounder Angelo Perera has been lured by Chattogram Royals for Rs. 6 million (US$ 20,000).
Apart from the aforesaid five cricketers, wicket-keeper opening batter Kusal Mendis and left-arm quick Binura Fernando had signed agreements with Noakhali Express and Rajshahi Warriors respectively, ahead of the auction which had featured 53 players from Sri Lanka.
Besides Dasun Shanaka, Pakistan fast bowler Ihsanullah Khan was the only other foreign player to exceed his base price, being sold for US$ 28,000, with the franchises recruiting 12 overseas players in total in the international auction segment.
The highest local buy at the auction, had been left-handed opening batter Mohammad Naim, who had commanded a fee of US$ 90,300 from Chattogram Royals.
The Bangladesh Premier League 2026 is scheduled to be held from 23 December to 26 January next year, with six franchises namely, Chattogram Royals, Dhaka Capitals, Rangpur Riders, Sylhet Titans, Rajshahi Warriors and Noakhali Express.
The BPL has also announced that teams have been allowed to make additional signings after the draft, keeping the door ajar for further reinforcements.
According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the previous two season’s champions Fortune Barishal and Khulna Tigers franchises will not be featured in the forthcoming edition.
The BCB has also cut Durbar Rajshahi and Chittagong Kings after both had reportedly failed to submit the requisite documents over controversy linked to payment issues during the previous season.
The BCB has further announced that another overriding factor for organising the BPL with fewer teams this time around, is due to the country’s general election which is slated to get underway in February next year.