Babar Azam Makes BPL Return with Rangpur Riders

image-lm936hbjBabar will play in the BPL for the first time since 2017. (X.com)

Pakistan's captain across all formats, Babar Azam, has been signed by Rangpur Riders for the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), marking his return to the BPL after his last appearance in 2017 with the Sylhet Sixers.

In an intriguing turn of events, Babar chose to participate in the BPL over an attractive offer from the UAE's ILT20. However, there was some initial ambiguity regarding the BPL team he would join.

Following the conclusion of the Bangladesh-Pakistan match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, it was revealed that Babar would represent Rangpur.

Surprisingly, Rangpur did not make an official announcement immediately, leaving a bit of suspense surrounding Babar's signing.

Rangpur Riders' Facebook post added to the intrigue, stating:

"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."

The post included an image titled 'Guess the rider,' providing hints 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 the currently ranked world's no. 1 ODI team.' These clues clearly pointed to Babar Azam, and fans quickly deduced the correct answer.

In addition to securing the services of Babar Azam, Rangpur Riders have also added Pakistani pacer Ihsanullah to bolster their lineup, enhancing their squad's strength. They have retained Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, and Hasan Mahmud from their previous squad.

Moreover, the team has already signed foreign cricketers Wanindu Hasaranga and Nicolas Pooran, further solidifying their roster for the upcoming BPL season.

The ninth season of the Bangladesh Premier League is set to commence in January 2024.