Ending all speculations and the fuss that put the auction in trouble, Mushfiqur Rahim finally got a buyer in Shahid Afridi for selling his historic bat, which he used to score Bangladesh’s maiden Test century, reports BSS.
Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi agreed to buy it as a piece of memorabilia for his Shahid Afridi foundation at $20,000 (Tk. 17 lakh approximately).
Mushfiqur, considered as the most dependable batsman of the country had put the bat for auction to raise fund for Covid-19 affected people in Bangladesh.
The bat was up for auction on May 9 and tasted several hiccup before the formalities ended on Thursday. However, Mushfiqur announced the name of the bidder after appearing live on Facebook Friday evening.
“Thanks to Shahid Afridi for purchasing my bat and contribution to this cause,” Mushfiqur wrote in his facebook.
The diminutive batsman also attached the message of Shahid Afridi.
“Assalamualaikum Mushfiq, what you’re doing for your countrymen is truly amazing. Only real life heroes can do something like that.
We are going through a tough time, and we need to support each other in order to recover from this situation. The amount of love and respect I have received from Bangladesh over the years will always be remembered.
On behalf of the people of Pakistan and the Shahid Afridi Foundation, I would like to purchase your bat and be a part of your journey.
My prayers are always with you and I hope Allah helps us recover from this pandemic. I hope to see you on the cricket field soon. Thank you.”
The Shahid Afridi Foundation was initiated in 2014 by former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi to carry out philanthropic activities in Pakistan and abroad.
13 years after the elevation to the Test cricket, Bangladesh saw its first double centurion in cricket’s elite format when Mushfiqur Rahim struck exact 200 off 321 balls, featuring 21 fours and one six against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Terming the SS bat as his most favourite, Mushfiqur put it up for auction with base price of Tk. 6 lakh but the process had to be suspended for a period due to some fake bidding, when it first went under the hammer.
The five- day auction was jointly operated by his management partner NIBCO, Sports for Life and Pickaboo.com. At one phase, the bat’s price exceeded Tk. 41 lakh, raising the concern.
The auctioneers-Nibco and Pickaboo.com — claimed that most of the bidders were fake and therefore they would have to filter before announcing the actual price of the bat.
Mushfiqur also lashed at out the fake bidders for putting him in an embarrassing situation.
“I condemn the fraud bidders, for this noble cause you demeaned me…whoever comes forward for this kind of noble gesture, at least support them if you cannot participate,” said Mushfiqur.
Chief executive officer of Pickaboo.com, Morin Talukder, said after some initial hiccups they finally got the right buyer in Shahid Afridi Foundation, who confirmed their interest through official letter.
The same platform also put a few other memorabilia, such as the bat of Mosaddek Hossain, Naim Sheikh, a signed cap by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and the batting gloves and jersey used by Akbar Ali in Under-19 World Cup final, with an aim to raise funds for Coronavirus affected people.
Mushfiqur’s management firm Nibco Sports Management later in a statement confirmed a Bangladeshi expatriate bought Akbar’s gloves and jersey for $2,000.
“Part of this fund will go to non-profit organisation BRAC for cash disbursement among the coronavirus affected marginal people while the player concerned would spend the rest of the money for his own initiative,” Nibco said through a press release.
Earlier, Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s World Cup 2019 bat was sold for Tk 20 lakh to a buyer, namely Raj, a Bangladeshi expatriate living in the USA.