Shahriar, who last played for the country on the tour of West Indies in May-June, was bracketed in the 19-member national pool for the Premier League. But the dejected right-hander from Narayanganj announced his retirement in a bid to win a lucrative contract outside the pool.

The return of the big clubs in the transfer this year after being at loggerhead with the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) over the start of the Premier League last season, has been welcomed by the cricketers, who suffered financially because of the dispute.

The transfer commences at 11 am and will continue until 3 pm for the next three days.

Shahriar's release gives him a chance to bargain like the other cricketers after missing an entire season. He is expected to join Mohammedan, who are keen to form a strong team containing the quota of three pool players -- Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak and exciting opening batsman Nafees Iqbal.

According to the new system, one team can recruit maximum three players from the now 18-member pool: one batsman, one batsman or an all-rounder and a bowler.

However Mohammedan is set to release their other pool members Javed Omar, Aftab Ahmed and Tapash Baisya, all linked to join arch-rival Abahani. But it was unclear where champion left-arm Mohammad Rafique would be headed.

The popular Motijheel club, who failed to win a league title for the last five years, are also set to sign big names like former national captain Minhazul Abedin and Narail quick Mashrafee bin Mortuza. Besides, they have also sought the service of left-arm pacer Manjurul Islam, portly right-hander Mazhrarul Haque and young wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh to form a competitive unit.

Naimur Rahman is also expected to leave Mohammedan and return to his former club Abahani, who for the first time in 16 years are set to launch a campaign without their batting stalwart Akram Khan.

The popular Chittagong right-hander, who has never been a part of the transfer after joining Abahani in the late 80s, has decided to switch to newcomers DOHS along side pool players Faisal Hossain, Hannan Sarkar and Nazmul Hossain.

DOHS has also targeted experienced pacer Hasibul Hossain, off-spinner Fahim Muntasir, out of favour national opener Al Shahriar, veteran left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Moni, young paceman Shahadat Hossain and young wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim in an effort to make their first season in the most colourful domestic competition impressive.

Two-time champions Victoria are set to retain their captain Khaled Mashud and middle-order batsman Alok Kapali. But they face a tricky choice of whether to drop Mushfiqur Rahman or Manzarul Islam, both are classified as all-rounder, from their list of three pool players. But outside the pool Victoria want opener Ehsanul Haque and paceman Talha Jubair, who has recovered from injury, to join them. Besides, they are desperate to retain the services of middle-order batsman Anisur Rahman, openers Azam Iqbal, Nuruzzaman and off-spinner Masudur Rahman.

City Club is the other team that promises to hog the headlines.

They are planning to form a team with former national captain Khaled Mahmud at the helm. The last year's runners-up have already convinced national vice-captain Rajin Saleh and right-arm paceman Tareq Aziz to stay for another year. It is likely that opener Mehrab Hossain, who has recently had his one-year suspension lifted three months early, to join City Club.

Biman Bangladesh, who survived relegation last year, are targeting national team's Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahman. Aminul Islam is also likely to return from Australia to join the national airliner.

The 13 cricketers on national duty will get their chance to take part in the transfer on November 4, a day before the third and final one-day against New Zealand.