Comilla bank on international players, Rangpur on allrounders

The newcomers will be led by Mashrafe Mortaza, who led Dhaka Gladiators to the title in the 2013 season. The set-up is also bolstered by other Bangladesh internationals in Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, and Shuvagata Hom. However, the youngsters - Ariful Haque, Mahmudul Hasan, and Sunzamul Isam - need to step up to lend balance to Victorians.

A lot will depend on the foreign contingent with Andre Russell, Shoaib Malik and Ahmed Shehzad arriving later in the tournament. Victorians will pin their hopes on the West Indian pair of Marlon Samuels and Sunil Narine while 39-year-old Darren Stevens from England is expected to double up as a middle-order batsman and change-up seamer.

Didn't participate

Sunil Narine has been given the go-ahead to play in the BPL despite having an ICC test hanging over his head, after being reported for a suspect action during the Sri Lanka tour. Victorians are hoping that the offspinner will be able to play the first few matches and get the action cleared.

Ariful Haque used to be a bits-and-pieces allrounder but has now developed into a consistent, full-fledged batsman in domestic cricket. He is a powerful hitter, and will be expected to fill an important role in the middle order.

Squad Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Abu Hider, Ahmed Shehzad, Alok Kapali, Ariful Haque, Dhiman Ghosh, Imrul Kayes, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Nuwan Kulasekara, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Sunil Narine, Robiul Islam, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Shoaib Malik, Shuvagata Hom, Darren Stevens, Sunzamul Islam, Lahiru Thirimanne

Rangpur Riders will target a top-four finish after a disappointing tournament in 2013. They have strong allrounders such as Darren Sammy, Thisara Perera, Lendl Simmons, Kevin O'Brien and Mohammad Nabi besides adding Misbah-ul-Haq, who brings with him the experience of 124 T20 games.

More crucial would be Shakib Al Hasan, who was quickly snapped up by Riders when they were lucky to be the first team to call the icon players. Shakib, who missed the second and third ODIs against Zimbabwe on paternity leave, is expected to be available throughout the BPL season. After having Soumya Sarkar as the first pick in the regular draft, Riders took took Arafat Sunny, allrounder Muktar Ali and batsman Mohammad Mithun. Seamer Abu Jayed Chowdhury is another exciting prospect.

Fifth

Riders' fortunes will revolve around their icon player Shakib Al Hasan. He will lead the side and shoulder responsibility with the bat and ball. Shakib, world's premier allrounder according to the ICC T20 rankings, though, has done it all before.

A couple of years ago, Muktar Ali was called the future Ryan Harris of Bangladesh cricket by his Rangpur coach Shane Jurgensen. He has improved substantially and was rewarded with a place in the Bangladesh A side.

Squad Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Abu Jayed, Arafat Sunny, Juhurul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Marshall Ayub, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Nabi, Muktar Ali, Murad Khan, Kevin O'Brien, Thisara Perera, Raqibul Hasan, Darren Sammy, Saqlain Sajib, Sachithra Senanayake, Lendl Simmons, Soumya Sarkar, Wahab Riaz

Sylhet Superstars have one of the strongest batting line-ups in the tournament, boasting the likes of Ravi Bopara and Brad Hodge, alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, Junaid Siddique and Josh Cobb. The bowling attack also seems to have most bases covered, with Ajantha Mendis, Rubel Hossain and Abdur Razzak at the helm with assistance coming from the Pakistan pair of Sohail Tanvir and Shahid Afridi.

Mohammad Shahid, Nurul Hasan and Nazmul Hossain are also good domestic picks while Mominul Haque has been given another opportunity to prove himself as a T20 batsman.

Third

Mushfiqur Rahim is second on the list of highest scorers in the BPL, just behind his new team-mate Hodge. Mushfiqur has always been a key figure in the Bangladesh middle order, and his role will be no different for his franchise.

Nurul Hasan, 21, is rated highly as a wicketkeeper-batsman, some even calling him the heir to Mushfiqur's gloves. Nurul is also an innovative batsman and this season's BPL is another opportunity to build on the gains.

Squad Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Abdur Razzak, Abu Sayeem, Ravi Bopara, Josh Cobb, Brad Hodge, Chris Jordan, Junaid Siddique, Ajantha Mendis, Mohammad Shahid, Mominul Haque, Nazmul Hossain, Nazmul Hossain Milon, Nurul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir