Taijul Islam, the first Bangladeshi cricketer to get a team in SA T20, won't play in the upcoming season of the South African domestic tournament.
The Durban Super Giants (DSG) have replaced the left-arm spinner by New Zealand star batter Kane Williamson, report agencies.
DSG had bought Taijul for R500,000 (approx. US$28,858) at the mega auction in September, but he's set to miss the upcoming fourth edition of the SA20.
Williamson, meanwhile, had made his debut in the tournament when he represented DSG last season, but was released by the side despite being their highest run-scorer. He scored 233 runs at an average of 46.60 and a strike rate of 118.87 in eight games. DSG finished at the bottom of the table.
Williamson's return to the SA20 continues his foray in the franchise world.
Last month, he was appointed Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) strategic advisor in the IPL. Earlier this year, after his maiden stint at the SA20, he played in the Hundred for the first time in his career and in the Vitality Blast after seven years. Soon after,
Williamson signed only a casual agreement with New Zealand Cricket to have flexibility in playing overseas.
Last week, he also retired from T20Is with the T20 World Cup only three months away.
At the SA20 next year, Williamson will join Noor Ahmad (retained), Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler (both pre-signed), among others, as DSG look to improve on their performance from last season.
The fourth edition of SA20 begins on December 26, with DSG playing the opening game against MI
Cape Town in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, there was uncertainty about Taijul's participation in the fourth season of SA T20, which is scheduled
to start on December 26 because, the tournament coincides with Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The BPL is set to kick off on December 19.
Durban was knocked out of the first round of the last edition of SA T20 held in January-February this year.
They
won only two of 10 matches to be at the bottom table.
Taijul played for Fortune Barisal which clinched the BPL title in the last season. However, the team is not participating this time.
The players' draft of BPL, which will be held with only five franchises in this season, will be held on November 17.
