Nahid Rana the only Bangladeshi cricketer entering SA20 auction
Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana is the sole representative from the country among 156 players set to go under the hammer at the SA20 mini auction on October 7, joining a list that also features Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Rassie van der Dussen.
Nahid's base price has been fixed at 1.5 million South African rand, more than Tk 11 million, matching the tournament's highest bracket alongside West Indies duo Kieron Pollard and Trent Boult, both of whom have previously featured only for MI Cape Town.
If a franchise picks him up, Nahid would become the second Bangladeshi cricketer in this year's SA20, following leg spinner Rishad Hossain's earlier direct signing by Sunrisers Eastern Cape ahead of the new season beginning on January 17.
Left arm spinner Taijul Islam had represented Durban's Super Giants in the previous edition, though he did not feature in a single match, meaning Rishad and a potential Nahid deal would mark Bangladesh's most meaningful SA20 presence yet.
England boast the largest overseas contingent in the auction with 31 players, including Moeen Ali, fresh off captaining Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to the Caribbean Premier League title, and Jordan Cox, who impressed with three Test half centuries against Pakistan.
Five Afghanistan players also feature on the list, among them Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mohammad Nabi, while West Indies pair Shimron Hetmyer and Shamar Joseph will both be hoping to secure their first ever SA20 contracts through the auction process.
Joburg Super Kings, now under new coach Albie Morkel, are expected to target fast bowling reinforcements after releasing Nandre Burger, Wiaan Mulder and Reece Topley, all three of whom remain available on this year's auction list.
Four of the six franchises have a combined 20 vacancies to fill, with a total auction purse of 350.25 million South African rand available, while Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their squads by signing Jos Buttler and Joe Root respectively.
Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who have now won the title three times, enter the new season as the tournament's most successful side, ahead of MI Cape Town, who have lifted the trophy on one previous occasion.