BPL T20 2012 Auction: Shahid Afridi sold for $700,000

Pakistan’s star cricketer Shahid Afridi has been auctioned for $700,000 in a fierce chase in the first ever Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Thursday.

According to report, Barisal Burners beat Duranta Rajshahi buying Chris Gayle at $551,000 after bidding got tied between two teams. Gayle will be available in the Barisal Burners from April 14.

The franchises fought in the auction to secure Afridi amid an intense bidding.

Tension in the auction house mounted when all the teams, except Barisal, called over $500,000 for Afridi.

Sylhet was ready to buy him at $500,010, Chittagong $600,000, Rajshahi $540,000 and Khulna $612,000. He was sold to Dhaka finally at $700,000.

Every franchise got one table with six chairs in the auction that started at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel at 11:20am on Thursday.

Each of the BPL teams will have 18 members, including a highest number of eight foreign players.

Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik has been sold for $150,000 while Saeed Ajamal and Kamran Akmal made it for $100,000 in the auction.

The players have been divided into three categories. There are 17 foreign players in the A category, 36 in B and 58 in C.

Six Bangladeshi players have been placed in category A, 12 in B and 68 in C.
The base price of a foreign player from the A category is $100,000, B category $ 50,000 and C category $25,000.

The base price of a local player from the A category is $45,000, B category $ 30,000 and C category $20,000.

Price of an A category player will rise by $ 15,000, B category by $ 10,000 and C by $ 5,000.
The highest bidders will get the players for one year.

One franchise is allowed to spend up to $2 million in the auction. Every team will be able to use up to five foreign players in a match.