With the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) players' draft just around the corner, franchises are already busy building their squads for the upcoming season. Defending champions Fortune Barishal are making strategic moves, having secured the signature of Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi through a direct contract.

Last year, Fortune Barishal clinched the BPL title under the captaincy of Tamim Iqbal. This season, the franchise has retained Tamim, once again entrusting him with the captaincy. Alongside him, experienced wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim has also been retained. In addition to these key players, Barishal has added exciting young talent in the form of Towhid Hridoy, who was instrumental in guiding Comilla to the final last season.

Among foreign signings, Barishal have roped in the seasoned Mohammad Nabi. A familiar face in franchise cricket leagues worldwide, the Afghan all-rounder has been a consistent performer in tournaments such as the IPL, Big Bash, and CPL.

Nabi, who previously captained Afghanistan, has also been a regular in the BPL over the years, having played for franchises like Rangpur Riders, Chattogram, Comilla, and Sylhet. His experience will be a valuable asset to Barishal as they aim to defend their title.

Nabi's international T20 career is equally impressive, with 129 appearances for Afghanistan, scoring 2,165 runs at a strike rate of 136.16 and taking 96 wickets at an average of 28.16.

The BPL 2025 players' draft is set to take place on October 14, where seven teams will have the opportunity to select players.