After big guns Mohammedan, Usha and Mariners dominated the opening day, Abahani signed seven new stick wielders.

Abahani also retained the country's number one custodian Russel Khan Bappi as well as top players like skipper Nakib, Faruque, Rajib and Shahidullah Titu. The list also included former national captain Alamgir Alam, who has been wearing the Sky Blue shirt for over a decade.

Abahani's biggest catch was young striker Russel Mahmud Jimmy, the top scorer of the recently concluded Under-21 Challenge Cup hockey tournament. BKSP lad Jimmy, son of national coach Abdur Razzak Sona Mia, joined Abahani from Azad Sporting.

Abahani also recruited national playmaker Musa Mia from archrivals Mohammedan, a move that has separated the Mia brothers Musa and Issa for the first time in the history of domestic hockey. The Faridpur duo has always featured in the same team but Issa has chosen Mariners over the Black and White tent this season.

Khurshid Alam, who had been living in England since 2001, returned to Abahani after missing two and a half years of the local scene. The ex-national defender last played for Usha.

The other recruits for the Sky-Blues were young goalkeeper Sohel (Ajax), Isha (Sonali Bank), Rana Das (Farashganj) and Russeluddin Bachchu (Usha) but it would be difficult for the holders to make up for the loss of Tuhin, Rajan, Habul and Shishu who all joined the Mohammedan on the first day.

Abahani officials are also expecting striker Shamim Reza, winger Sheikh Ramiz and midfielder Mahbub Ehsan Rana to play for the popular Dhanmondi outfit this season.

Abahani official and Bangladesh Hockey Federation's joint-secretary Zahidur Rahman Pushkin said last night that they are waiting for the federation to lift suspensions on Abahani players Shamim and Rana.

"Shamim has already arrived in Dhaka from London and Ramiz is due any day," informed Pushkin adding that the federation will soon sit to discuss the bans on Shamim and Rana.

Shamim was banned after he stayed back in England following the national team's World Cup qualifying tournament played in Scotland while Rana was banned for life last year for assaulting an umpire.

"We have secured 13 players and that is all for this season. We hope to have these three players in the squad as well as three foreigners," Pushkin told.

The transfers will end today.