Shanto believes Nahid and Liton should play in the PSL

Franchise cricket holds significant value in today's cricketing market. Domestic T20 leagues are filled with glamour and financial allure. Almost every cricketer aspires to participate in these tournaments. While Bangladeshi cricketers occasionally secure contracts, they do not feature in foreign leagues as frequently. Apart from Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, no other Bangladeshi player has consistently played in franchise leagues.

The primary reason behind this is the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) often withholding No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Even when permission is granted, strict time limitations are imposed. As a result, many franchises lose interest despite initially signing Bangladeshi players. This issue arises every year, drawing criticism towards the BCB. However, the country's cricket governing body remains firm in its stance, making decisions as they see fit.

With the Pakistan Super League (PSL) approaching, the NOC debate has resurfaced once again. The tournament is set to commence on 11 April. Nahid Rana, Liton Kumar Das, and Rishad Hossain have been signed by PSL teams for this edition. However, BCB President Faruque Ahmed has stated that none of them have yet applied for an NOC.

Nonetheless, Najmul Hossain Shanto believes that cricketers should participate in tournaments like the PSL. However, he acknowledges that it depends on various factors. Speaking about Nahid's PSL opportunity on Monday, the Bangladesh captain, who currently leads Abahani in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, said, "He (Nahid Rana) should play in such tournaments. Franchise cricket should definitely be played. But it entirely depends on the cricket board, coach, captain—everything."

"I think if our cricketers start playing in foreign franchise leagues, they will gain valuable experience and learn to take responsibility. Sharing a dressing room with overseas players will be a great learning experience. Hopefully, our players will get more opportunities in such tournaments in the future," Shanto added.

PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi has signed Nahid. As a teammate of the young fast bowler in both the national team and Abahani, Shanto holds high hopes for him. "He is a great asset to our cricket. We can see how the cricketing world is talking about him. The best part is that the national team's physios and Abahani's management are maintaining his workload efficiently. He is playing accordingly and, by the grace of Allah, remains fit. He has retained his energy," he said.

Abahani is enjoying a strong campaign in the Premier League, leading the points table with four wins from five matches. However, despite the team's success, captain Shanto has struggled with the bat, scoring only 78 runs in four innings, with a highest score of 37. His strike rate is an even bigger concern—53.79. However, he remains unbothered, stating, "As long as the team is winning matches, I am not too worried about my batting."