In an exclusive interview with Cricfrenzy, team owner Mizanur Rahman revealed the story behind Afridi’s inclusion as he revealed it was Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal who convinced Afridi to participate in the tournament.

"Shaheen Afridi is arriving today. You’ll see him in Mirpur tomorrow. Our practice session is from 11 AM to 1 PM. We reached out to him, and he agreed to play. Tamim himself spoke to him and got him signed," Mizanur shared.

However, Afridi will not be available for the entire BPL season. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted him permission to play from December 30 to January 15. Meanwhile, Faheem Ashraf and Imran Khan Jr. have received No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in the full tournament.

Pakistani players have traditionally been a dominant presence in the BPL, and this year is no exception for Fortune Barishal. The team boasts five Pakistani cricketers, including Ali Mohammad and Khan Jahandad, who are also expected to join the squad soon.

With a strong lineup and key players like Shaheen Afridi, Barishal looks poised to defend their title in the upcoming season of the BPL.