Ahead of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 Players’ Draft, one of the most awaited questions has finally been answered — Shakib Al Hasan has been signed by Chittagong Kings for the 11th edition of the BPL. For the first time in his career, Shakib will play for a Chittagong-based team in the tournament.

There had been speculation surrounding Shakib's participation in the BPL this year, especially after his recent retirement from Test and T20 formats. Additionally, there were uncertainties regarding his return to Bangladesh for the league. Despite being listed in the highest salary bracket of 60 lakh BDT in the Players Draft, Shakib’s journey in this season’s BPL has already begun as Chittagong Kings sealed a direct deal with him, bypassing the draft.

Chittagong Kings, who are making a strong comeback after a hiatus from the BPL, have been strategically building their team for the upcoming season. Before securing Shakib, the franchise made several notable direct signings, including Shoriful Islam, Moeen Ali, Haider Ali, Angelo Mathews, and Usman Khan. The Kings also announced Enamul Haque Jr., a former national team spinner, as their assistant coach, though he remains in the draft as a player as well. Meanwhile, Australian legend Shaun Tait has been appointed as the team’s head coach.