Babar Azam, the eminent Pakistani cricket captain, is set to make his mark in the ninth season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as a proud member of the Rangpur Riders squad, with the league scheduled to commence in January. Known globally for his exceptional batting skills, Babar Azam has entered into a direct contract with the former champions of the BPL, Rangpur Riders.
Amidst an enticing offer from UAE’s ILT20, Babar Azam’s choice to embrace the BPL stirred initial uncertainty regarding his destination within the league. However, following the conclusion of the electrifying Bangladesh-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup, the news was finally confirmed: Babar Azam would be donning the illustrious Rangpur jersey. Intriguingly, the Rangpur Riders chose to shroud this announcement in secrecy, cultivating an aura of mystery around Babar’s inclusion in their ranks.
A cryptic Facebook post by Rangpur Riders read, “We are here with another surprise after signing the world’s No. 1 all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the fight for victory! Dear Rangpur Riders fans, guess who is going to be the new rider by matching the information given in the picture, and share your opinion in the comments.”
Accompanying this enigmatic message was an image titled ‘Guess the rider,’ replete with clues such as ‘he made his ODI debut in 2015,’ ‘He’s the first player to score more than 5000 runs in his first 100 ODI innings,’ and ‘He’s the captain of currently ranked world’s no. 1 ODI team.’ It didn’t take long for ardent fans to decipher the riddle – the answer was, indeed, ‘Babar Azam.’
Rangpur Riders, in addition to securing Babar Azam, have bolstered their lineup with the inclusion of Pakistan’s pacer, Ihsanullah, and Bangladesh’s cricket sensation, Shakib Al Hasan. The retention of key players such as Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, and Hasan Mahmud further solidifies the team’s foundation.
What’s more, Rangpur Riders have already inked deals with foreign cricket stars, Wanindu Hasaranga and Nicolas Pooran, augmenting their squad’s strength as they gear up for the forthcoming season of the BPL. With a star-studded roster and the addition of Babar Azam, Rangpur Riders are poised to be formidable contenders in the upcoming BPL season.
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