Pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is unlikely to play the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament due to his fitness issue. 

The former Bangladeshi captain played his last match for the national team in 2020. He has been continuing domestic cricket since then with questionable fitness issue.

In the last couple of BPL tournaments, he didn't bowl in most of the matches but played as pure batter. Mashrafe, a former lawmaker of the ousted Awami League (AL) government led the Sylhet Strikers in the last season, was drafted to play in the same team this time also. 

But with two days remaining to kick off the BPL, Sylhet head coach Mahmud Emon said that there is uncertainty about Mashrafe due to his fitness.

"Mashrafe is still in our squad because he is the integral part of this team. It depends on the situation - how he feels, what is his fitness status. If he is fit to play or if the situation is good, he will definitely play," he said while talking to the reporters on Saturday. 

When asked whether they have been in touch with him, the Sylhet Strikers coach replied, "Talks are going on. But it depends on the situation. There are talks about the fitness status. Preparation is important."

Earlier, the franchise informed that Mashrafe will play in another role if he is reluctant to be the part of the team as a cricketer but they are yet to clear in what role the former Bangladesh captain will play.

"Until he is fit to play, we think we will not consider Mashrafe. We will wait for him. It is his call. Whenever he says he is ready to play. Even then, there is a specific time. When there is no more time, then we will call another player in his place," he said. 
 
It has not been decided yet who will lead Sylhet Strikers. The franchise coach said that the decision will be announced on Saturday. 

Except Mashrafe, the rest of the cricketers were in practice on Saturday, he added.

"All the local players were in practice. Except Mashrafe all of them were present. Even two overseas players were also present. Two more have already checked in hotel and the rest of the overseas players are on the way," he concluded.

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.