The 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) kicks off tomorrow, and ahead of the much-anticipated tournament, newcomer Durbar Rajshahi has bolstered its lineup with two notable pacers: Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Shafiul Islam.

Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, a left-arm pacer and member of Bangladesh’s U19 World Cup-winning team, is set to make his mark in this year’s BPL. Despite being plagued by injuries throughout his career—be it back or shoulder issues— Mrittunjoy has consistently demonstrated resilience.

In his debut BPL season in 2022, Mrittunjoy stunned cricket fans with a spectacular hat-trick, marking him as one of the league's standout performers. His domestic cricket success earned him a call-up to the national team, making his ODI debut against Ireland before donning the T20I cap.

Speaking about his inclusion in the team, Mrittunjoy shared a heartfelt message on Durbar Rajshahi's official Facebook page: "Assalamualaikum, I am Mohammad Mrittunjoy Chowdhury. This year, I’ll be playing for Durbar Rajshahi. InshaAllah, I will give my best for the team. Please stay with us and keep your trust in us. InshaAllah, we will achieve great things."

Joining Mrittunjoy is Shafiul Islam, an experienced pacer with 20 T20I appearances for Bangladesh. While Shafiul has been absent from the national team for some time, he remains a consistent performer in domestic cricket. His vast experience is expected to provide stability and leadership to Rajshahi’s bowling lineup.

Durbar Rajshahi’s inclusion of Shafiul and Mrittunjoy reflects their commitment to building a balanced squad capable of competing at the highest level in their debut season.