Dutch, American players get BPL contracts

Aaron Jones drives a six over long-on horizontal

Five associate players – three from the Netherlands and two from the USA – have been awarded contracts for the 2023 season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The quintet join a host of star names from across the cricketing world for the 7-team tournament which takes place in January.

Among the signings is one of the stars of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Max O’Dowd, the second leading run-scorer in the tournament, was drafted by Chattogram Challengers. The contract is O’Dowd’s first in a major franchise league.

Joining O’Dowd at the Chattogram franchise is USA’s Unmukt Chand. The former India Under-19 captain lost his domestic contract in 2020, and now resides in the USA, where he is in the process of qualifying by residency. Chand has played two seasons for Silicon Valley Strikers in Minor League Cricket, as well as a short stint with Melbourne Renegades in the 2021-22 BBL season.

Elsewhere, Paul van Meekeren was signed by Khulna Tigers. Van Meekeren was a star of the Dutch T20 World Cup campaign, taking 11 wickets at an average of 18, including 3/11 in the Netherland’s win over Zimbabwe. The Dutch seamer adds to a growing list of franchise appearances, including in the Caribbean and Sri Lankan leagues, on top of playing domestic cricket for Gloucestershire.

Colin Ackermann completes the Dutch trio, signing with Sylhet Strikers. The allrounder adds to his list of domestic teams, having played T20 cricket in South Africa and England, as well as internationally for the Netherlands.

The fifth associate player to be signed was American Aaron Jones. Jones gets his first contract as an overseas player, after also playing for New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers in Minor League Cricket. The New York born batter has also played in West Indies domestic One Day and First-Class tournaments as a local. Jones will represent Rangpur Riders in the BPL.

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