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Shakib Al Hasan has been drafted into the Global Super League (GSL) for the Dubai Capitals as the ace Bangladeshi allrounder’s run in foreign leagues continues with the doors to national cricket shut.
In a social media post on Sunday, Dubai Capitals announced that the 38-year-old southpaw has been selected as a replacement for Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj, reports bdnews24.com.
Shakib last took part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as a substitute player, playing three matches for Lahore Qalandars. But Shakib’s stint at this year’s PSL was his first endeavour in almost six months following his suspension due to suspect action and other issues.
The second phase of the Global Super League will start on Thursday. Dubai Capitals’ first game of the phase is slated against New Zealand’s Central Districts.
Dubai Capitals are the champions of the last edition of the UAE’s International League T20. The other three teams in the five-team GSL, organised by Cricket West Indies and held in Guyana, are BPL’s Rangpur Riders, Big Bash’s Hobart Hurricanes and the host team Amazon Warriors.
Rangpur Riders, led by Nurul Hasan Sohan, won the first edition of the tournament last December.
Rangpur Rides featured Shakib in the BPL’s 2024 edition, his last appearance in the domestic T20 competition.
Possibilities of Shakib playing for Rangpur were discussed ahead of the last edition of the GSL, but the team issued a statement saying, contrary to their intentions of retaining Shakib for the competition, the then-tumultuous situation in Bangladesh did not allow them to do so.
Dubai will play Rangpur on Jul 16. In the preliminary stage, the five teams will face each other. The top two teams will play the final on Jul 18.