Shakib to captain Bangladesh Tigers in Asian Legends League

Despite being away from international cricket for nearly 22 months, Shakib Al Hasan has remained active in franchise and legends tournaments abroad.

The former Bangladesh captain has now been named captain of the Bangladesh Tigers for the upcoming Asian Legends League, featuring retired and former international cricketers from across Asia.

The tournament organizers have announced a 16-member Bangladesh Tigers squad, with former all-rounder Alok Kapali serving as vice-captain.

Kapali, who famously claimed Bangladesh’s first-ever Test hat-trick, is joined by experienced players including wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh, Shafiul Islam, Abul Hasan Raju, Mukhtar Ali, and Saklain Sajib.

Shafiul Islam, who retired from all forms of cricket in January this year, is remembered for his crucial partnership with Mahmudullah Riyad during Bangladesh’s historic victory over England in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Asian Legends League will also feature Asian Stars, Indian Royals, Pakistan Panthers, Afghanistan Pathans, and Sri Lankan Lions, bringing together several renowned former cricketers from across the continent.

Pakistan's squad includes Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Imran Nazir, while Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thisara Perera, and Kumar Sangakkara will represent Sri Lanka.

India will be represented by Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, and Harbhajan Singh, while Asghar Afghan will captain the Afghanistan Pathans.

Shakib has not represented Bangladesh in international cricket since 2024, which also ruled him out of domestic competitions such as the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).

However, he has continued to play in overseas leagues, including the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and T10 League. He is currently representing Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

The tournament begins with a match between the Sri Lankan Lions and Afghanistan Pathans. Bangladesh Tigers will open their campaign against India tomorrow, while the final is scheduled for August 10. All matches will be played at the Lusaka Sports Ground.

Bangladesh Tigers Squad:
Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Alok Kapali (Vice-Captain), Nazmus Sadat, Dhiman Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Mehedi Maruf, Abul Hasan Raju, Shafiul Islam, Mukhtar Ali, Tapas Ghosh, Nazmul Hossain Milon, Uttam Kumar Ghosh, Saklain Sajib, Farhad Hossain, Emon Ahmed, Al Mamun Russell, and Sadekur Rahman.