Fazel Atrachali becomes costliest buy ever in Pro Kabaddi League history
Fazel Atrachali, who went for an impressive ₹1 crore, was among the three Iranian talents bought by U Mumbai in the Pro Kabaddi League auctions in Mumbai on Wednesday. Apart form Atrachali, the side also acquired the services of Abofazl Maghsodlouemahali and Hadi Tajik in the foreign players’ auction.
Iranian defender Atrachali, having a base price of ₹30 lakh, sparked off a bidding war between Jaipur Pink Panthers and the Mumbai-based franchise. However, it was the latter who bagged Atrachali.
Gujarat Fortunegiants had the option to retain the Iranian but they declined to exercise the Final Bid Match (FBM) option. With this purchase, the Iranian also surpassed Nitin Tomar, who was till now the costliest buy in the league after being bagged by UP Yoddhas for ₹93 lakhs in the previous year’s auctions.
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Later, the Mumbai based franchise snapped up Maghsodlouemahali and Tajik for ₹21.75 lakh and ₹11 lakh respectively. Atrachali’s compatriot Abozar Mohajermighani, who was the first foreign player to be auctioned, was taken by Telugu Titans for ₹76 lakhs as the Fortunegiants once again refused to exercise their FBM option.
South Korean raider Jang Kun Lee was bought by Haryana Steelers for ₹33 lakh. However, the Bengal Warriors utilised the FBM card to retain the 25-year-old. Bengal also signed Bangladesh’s left cover defender Ziaur Rahman for ₹33.25 lakhs.
Rahman’s compatriot and raider Md Zakir Hossain went to Haryana Steelers for ₹8.4 lakh.
Jaipur Pink Panthers showed interest in Iran’s Farhad Rahimi and had almost picked him for ₹21.5 lakhs but Telugu Titans used the FBM option to retain the right-corner defender.
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Jaipur however, secured the services of South Korean Young Chang Ko and Kenya’s David Mosambayi after paying ₹11.4 lakhs and ₹10.2 lakhs respectively.
Gujarat signed their first player of the auction as they spent ₹12 lakhs and ₹17.2 lakhs to rope in Iran’s Hadi Oshtorak and South Korean Dong Geon Lee respectively.
While Patna Pirates bought South Korean all-rounder Taedeok Eom paying ₹11.4 lakhs, another South Korean Dong Ju Hong was pocketed by Bengaluru Bulls for ₹8 lakhs.
Nepal’s all-rounder Sanjay Shrestha was sold to Puneri Paltan for ₹8 lakhs while South Korean Seaong Ryeol Kim went to UP Yoddhas for ₹8.2 lakhs.