'Not bad for a day's work': Neesham posts after BPL winners Barishal buy him for the final but don't play him

Jimmy Neesham became a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champion with Fortune Barishal despite not playing in the final.

The New Zealand all-rounder was signed by Barishal specifically for the final after completing his stint in the SA20 league, but he never made it onto the field, making his triumph an unusual talking point.

Taking to Instagram, Neesham posted a picture with the BPL trophy alongside his fellow Kiwi teammate James Fuller, humorously captioning it, "Not bad for a day's work."

So, what did Neesham do in Dhaka? He trained, batted, and bowled in practice sessions. Post-match, he even conducted an interview with David Malan on behalf of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). On the final day, his biggest contribution was possibly enduring nearly 40 overs as a spectator from the bench!

For a player like Neesham, who is usually an automatic choice in T20 franchise leagues, sitting out an entire match is a rare experience. In leagues such as the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Vitality Blast, and SA20, he is a regular feature in the playing XI. His last Indian Premier League (IPL) appearance was back in 2022, but he has continued playing in other franchise tournaments worldwide. Prior to joining the BPL final squad, he was part of Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 League. Once his team was eliminated from SA20, he made his way to Bangladesh for a single-match appearance—or rather, non-appearance—in the BPL final.

Before SA20, Neesham also played in the Nepal Premier League, where he actively contributed to his team's triumph. The BPL, however, offered him a rather unique experience—being flown in for just one game without getting a chance to play. Naturally, this bizarre situation was too amusing for Neesham to ignore.

Known for his wit, Neesham has a history of taking defeats and odd cricketing moments in stride. Fans will recall his famous reaction after New Zealand's heartbreaking loss in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final. At that time, he had jokingly advised children not to take up professional cricket but instead consider baking or other professions, "Eat, get fat at 60, and die happy."

For someone who was once renowned for his sharp Twitter comebacks—so much so that ESPN Cricinfo once described him as an "all-rounder and Twitter star"—Neesham has noticeably reduced his social media activity. Since May 2023, he has not posted anything on X (formerly Twitter), marking a shift from his previously active online presence.

His Instagram post regarding his unusual BPL title win, however, shows that his humour remains intact, even if his social media presence has faded.