|| CF DESK ||

Rangpur Riders have commenced their training camp under assistant coach Mohammad Ashraful's guidance, preparing for the Global Super League's inaugural edition. The team aims to secure a place in the final and ultimately clinch the championship title in the upcoming tournament.

Rangpur Riders have announced a 13-member squad, featuring nine Bangladeshi cricketers and four overseas players. Recognizing the challenge of competing in a global tournament, Ashraful acknowledged the difficulties but emphasized the unique opportunity for local players to shine on an international platform.

"Of course, it won’t be easy; it will be challenging," Ashraful stated. "But I believe this is a great opportunity for our local players. Global T20 tournaments receive worldwide attention, and our players don’t often get such exposure. If we perform well as a team and individually, our goal to reach the final can be achieved. Ultimately, everyone dreams of becoming champions, but our first target is to make it to the final."

Nurul Hasan Sohan will lead the Rangpur Riders as captain. The squad includes key players like Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar, and Saif Hasan. The team has also brought in leg-spinning all-rounder Rishad Hossain, left-handed batter Afif Hossain, left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, and pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi.

On the international front, the Riders have signed four overseas players: Caribbean all-rounder Matthew Ford, England’s top-order batter Wayne Madsen, pacer Jack Chappell, and USA’s left-arm off-spinning all-rounder Harmeet Singh.

Speaking about the squad, Ashraful said, "Rangpur is a well-organized team, one of the top three or four sides in the BPL. Being part of such a team feels great. We’ll have three more days of training followed by a practice match before heading to the West Indies for another four days of preparation. It’s exciting to work in such a positive environment."

The Global Super League is set to run from November 26 to December 7, featuring teams from five countries. Alongside Rangpur Riders, the tournament includes hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors, Pakistan’s Lahore Qalandars, England’s Hampshire Hawks, and Australia’s Victoria. Fortune Barishal, the reigning champions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was initially invited to participate but declined, paving the way for Rangpur’s inclusion.