English star batter Dawid Malan is set to light up the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as he joins Fortune Barishal. The defending champions secured Malan's signature before the official BPL 2025 players' draft, aiming to build a strong squad to retain their title.

The BPL players' draft is set to take place today, but franchises have been allowed to retain players and sign new talent directly before the event. Fortune Barishal retained their captain, Tamim Iqbal, who led them to victory in the last season. The team has also kept veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim and secured direct contracts with rising star Towhid Hridoy, Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, and Caribbean powerhouse Kyle Mayers.

Dawid Malan, Fortune Barishal's latest acquisition, is no stranger to the BPL, having previously represented various franchises in the league. Known for his ability to turn matches around with the bat, Malan’s T20 record with England is remarkable. At one point, he held the record for the fastest century in T20Is for England, smashing a ton off just 48 balls.

Malan has played 62 T20 internationals for England, scoring 1,892 runs at an impressive average of 36.38, including 16 half-centuries and a century. He was also a part of England's 2022 T20 World Cup-winning squad, although an injury kept him out of the final.

As BPL 2025 gears up, seven teams are set to participate once again. The draft will see 188 local players and 440 foreign players across various categories as teams pick their preferred talents to complete their squads.