Rangpur Riders hope to capitalise on the Bangladesh-alike condition in Guyana, as the BPL franchise is set to compete in the inaugural Global Super League, starting on November 26.
Rangpur will begin their campaign in the five-team tournament with their first match against Hampshire Hawks on November 27.聽
鈥業 played in the last ODI series [of Bangladesh] there. It鈥檚 similar to the Bangladeshi wickets,鈥� captain Nurul Hasan said to press during the jersey unveiling ceremony in Mirpur on Saturday.聽
鈥業鈥檝e talked with our coach, Mickey Arthur, about how the plan and situation could be. We will get the opportunity there to practice for three-four days. Hopefully, that will work in our favor鈥�, Nurul added.
The team has been training over the past few days under assistant coach Mohammad Ashraful in preparation for the upcoming tournament, which will also feature the Guyana Amazon Warriors (CPL), Lahore Qalandars (PSL), Hampshire Hawks (T20 Blast), and Victoria (Australian state team).
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has chosen Rangpur after Fortune Barishal, the last edition鈥檚 BPL champion, turned down the offer.
Nazmul Abedin, the board director stated that it would benefit both the national team and the players like Rishad Hossain, Soumya Sarker, and Mahedi Hasan who will feature for Rangpur.聽
鈥業t鈥檚 not that Rangpur will only represent them. They will also represent BCB as well as Bangladesh. I hope they will play their best,鈥� he said.聽
The GSL will be the first T20 tournament since the Champions League T20 (2009-2014), featuring teams from various countries. However, there were no teams from Bangladesh in any of the six editions of the now-defunct CLT20.
Nurul thinks that being the first team from Bangladesh to compete in such an event is a huge achievement.
鈥業 think it鈥檚 a big opportunity for our players that such a global tournament is being held. Hopefully it鈥檒l be a competitive tournament. To participate in this, as the first team from Bangladesh to play in such a tournament, I guess that鈥檒l be a big achievement for us.鈥�
Rangpur also announced Pakistani batter Khushdil Shah as their latest foreign signing after already bringing in Steven Taylor (USA), Matthew Forde (WI), Harmeet Singh (USA), Wayne Madsen (England), and Zak Chappell (England).
