Abu Dhabi T10 League 2022: Shakib Al Hasan set to lead Bangla Tigers, Sreesanth joins as team mentor

After being named as the captain of the Bangladesh T20I side, Shakib Al Hasan is set to join the Bangla Tigers and lead the side in the fifth edition of Abu Dhabi T10 League. The 35-year-old joined the side as a Icon player and will take over the responsibilities from Faf Du Plessis, who helped the team finish third after winning six of the ten matches last year.

Along with Shakib, the former India International and two-time world champion Shanthakumaran Sreesanth will join the side as the team mentor. After retiring from the game, this is for the first time that the 39-year-old will be joining a team in a coaching role. He will be working with Aftab Ahmed, former Bangladesh all-rounder, who has been named the head coach of the side. Nazmul Abedin Fahim has been appointed as the assistant coach of the team.

Along with Shakib, the New Zealander Colin Munro, opener Evin Lewis will join the squad. Lewis has been signed as a platinum player while Munro was part of  the ‘A category’. Mohammad Amir is set to lead the pace attack along with Matheesha Pathirana, who’s also known as ‘Baby Malinga’ in the cricketing world.

It is befitting that Shakib Al Hasan plays for the Bangla Tigers: Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury

The Bangla Tiger is known to represent Bangladesh in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Thus, to have a Bangladeshi as the captain of the side was only befitting according to Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury, the owner of the club. Praising Shakib, he also went up to say how the 35-year-old will lead the team from the front.

“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,” said the chairman of FMC group who owns the team in the league.

He added, “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.”

The tournament is scheduled to begin on 23rd of November and continue till the 4th of December, 2022.