Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain is set to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) this season after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) granted him a full No Objection Certificate (NOC).
This marks the first time in almost a decade that a Bangladesh player will feature in the Australian franchise tournament. The last appearance came on January 19, 2015, when Shakib Al Hasan played in the league.
Rishad was picked by the Hobart Hurricanes from the BBL draft, with former Australia captain and the franchise’s head of strategy Ricky Ponting identifying him as a key addition. The BCB’s cricket operations chief Shahriar Nafees confirmed to Daily Times Of Bangladesh that Rishad has been cleared to take part in the competition.
“Yes, we’ve granted NOC to Rishad for the entire season of the upcoming Big Bash League,” Nafees said.
The BBL will run from December 14 to January 25, overlapping with the tentative start date of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on December 19. As a result, Rishad is unlikely to participate in this season’s BPL.
Ponting, who had expressed strong interest in the young spinner last year, explained what drew the Hurricanes to him.
“He’s someone that’s an out-and-out wicket-taking bowler,” said Ponting. “Talking to Nathan Ellis, our captain, through the course of last year, he was desperate for a spin bowler to take wickets through the middle of the innings. That’s what leg-spinners do. If you look at Rishad’s record, it’s amazing.”
