Ahead of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a mega auction is set to take place, with 13 Bangladeshi cricketers joining the pool of international players. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the total of 409 overseas cricketers for this year’s auction.

The final registration deadline for the IPL auction was November 4, and BCCI officially announced on the night of November 5 that the auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. This year’s auction pool features a staggering 1,574 players, with 1,165 from India. Among the international players, 320 have represented their countries in international cricket, while 30 are from ICC associate nations.

Among the Indian players, 48 have international experience, and 152 have previously played in the IPL. The remaining 965 Indian players have yet to feature in the IPL. For the foreign players, 104 are yet to make their IPL debut, while 91 players from South Africa form the largest overseas contingent. Other countries with a strong presence include Australia with 76 players, Afghanistan with 29, England with 52, New Zealand with 39, and the West Indies with 33. From Bangladesh, 13 players have registered, including prominent cricketers like Mustafizur Rahman, who is seen as a strong contender for team selection.

Each franchise will be able to retain a squad of up to 25 players. If every team fills its full quota, a maximum of 204 players could be selected from the auction.