The Bangladesh Premier League auction has long been known for its unpredictability, where careers can be transformed within minutes. This year, one of the most striking success stories belonged to Habibur Rahman, whose stock has risen sharply on the back of remarkable T20 performances.
Even before the auction began, analysts agreed that Habibur was likely to draw interest. Still, few imagined he would secure such a dramatic upgrade from his base price of eighteen lakh taka. Noakhali Express, keen to strengthen their top order, made a bold move by signing him for fifty lakh—a figure that symbolises both faith and expectation.
Habibur’s meteoric rise stems from his outstanding form over the past year, particularly in the Rising Stars Asia Cup. He has been a bright spot in Bangladesh’s domestic T20 landscape for some time, but the Asia Cup acted as the catalyst that transformed him from a promising player into a sought-after commodity.
In that tournament, he finished as the third-highest run-scorer and delivered one of the most memorable innings in Bangladesh’s T20 history. His breathtaking 35-ball century against Hong Kong China rewrote the national record books, eclipsing the previous fastest hundred by Parvez Hossain, who took 42 balls in 2020.
Habibur’s influence extended beyond that one innings. He struck a crucial 65 in the semi-final against India A and concluded the competition with 228 runs from five matches, averaging 57 with a blistering strike rate of 182.40. His tally of 21 sixes ranked second in the tournament, underlining his ability to change a match within overs rather than sessions.
His domestic exploits back up the numbers. In the NCL T20 League, he consistently ranked among the top performers, hitting 218 runs with an exceptional strike rate of 183. In the 2024 season, he again impressed with 259 runs and 17 sixes. While his BPL track record is modest—just 128 runs in 14 appearances—franchises clearly believe he is on the verge of a breakthrough.
For Noakhali Express, the investment is strategic. They are banking on a player whose confidence has never been higher. If Habibur brings his recent form into the BPL, not only could he justify the fifty-lakh price tag, but he might also reshape the team’s fortunes. This season could be his long-awaited arrival on Bangladesh’s biggest T20 stage.