Fortune Barishal were one of the standout sides in the last two editions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), earning success both on and off the field. With several national stars and prominent overseas cricketers in their ranks, they also built a strong fan following. However, the franchise will not feature in the upcoming season.
Akashbari Holidays have now expressed interest to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in taking over ownership of the Barishal franchise. The company’s assistant manager, Kamal Talukdar, has confirmed that they hope to include former national captain Tamim Iqbal in their squad if their bid is successful.
Tamim was a key figure for Fortune Barishal in the previous two seasons, leading them to back-to-back titles. He scored 492 runs in the 2023 edition to win the player of the tournament award and followed that with another consistent campaign, scoring 413 runs the next year.
Kamal said his company intends to contact Tamim once ownership is confirmed. “Tamim Iqbal was the captain of the champion team,” he said. “We definitely plan to approach him. If he agrees to play, we will make every effort to bring him into our team.”
Having completed all formalities to participate in the BPL, Kamal added that Akashbari Holidays aim to build a high-profile squad in the style of Fortune Barishal. He also promised surprises in both the coaching staff and the player line-up.
“If we get the team, Inshallah, you will see something exciting,” he said. “There will be surprises in our choice of coach and players. We’ll build a well-balanced side with both local and overseas cricketers, including stars from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.”
