Shakib Al Hasan, the star Bangladesh all-rounder, will lead the Bangla Tigers in the upcoming season of the Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League, scheduled in November 2022.
Shakib will be joined by West Indian batter Elvin Lewis, New Zealand’s Colin Munro, Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir and Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana while the team will ne mentored by former Indian cricketer S. Sreesanth.
The team, which came third in the previous edition, have also appointed Aftab Ahmed as head coach, Richard Stonier as a trainer, Nazmul Abedin Fahim as Assistant Coach and Mentor and retained Kunal Manek as Analyst.
Commenting on the development, franchisee owner Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury felt that inclusion of Shakib is an exciting development and is designed to strengthen and inspire the team.
“It is befitting that Shakib plays for the Bangla Tigers. He is a fantastic Ambassador for Bangladesh cricket. From day one we have been keen to include him in the squad but due to the busy schedule of the national team, we were unable to secure him till this season. He is a dynamic, experienced, dedicated, passionate and motivated player as well as an inspirational captain, who will no doubt lead the squad from the front,” Yasin said in a statement.
“The focus this year is teamwork because pure talent might help us win games but teamwork and intelligence combined wins championships. From the conscious player choices being made to the experience of the coaching team, we feel confident of being a strong contender for the trophy. To get quality emerging players, we have even organized a local talent hunt campaign to further enhance the team. With Shakib at the helm, the future is looking bright,” he added.
Further praising Shakib, Yasin expressed: “As a bowler, Shakib is accurate, consistent, and canny; and his aggression and wide range of strokes are some of his many batting attributes. More importantly, he has self-belief and excellent temperament, unflustered by the big occasion and prepared to lock horns sportingly against all teams.”
“His inclusion in the team this year reinforces the significance of the Abu Dhabi T10 and its popularity with players of the highest caliber. More international players are joining this tournament, which only adds to the excitement and provides a great opportunity for local players to watch and learn. Thanks to him, the team has never been better prepared to lift the trophy,” concluded Chowdhury.