A star-studded cast of players are set to feature in an upcoming series between an Asia XI and a World XI in Bangladesh in March to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the birth of the country’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.
The two T20s are set to be played over consecutive days on March 21 and March 22 in Dhaka, a week before the IPL is scheduled to start.
Contract negotiations with potential players for the series are still ongoing in some cases, but Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president, confirmed that a whole host of well-established international players are set to feature in the series.
“Players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have finalised with us, from Afghanistan,” Hassan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo in Dhaka on Tuesday. “Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane will play while from Sri Lanka, we will have Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera. From Bangladesh, we will have Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Liton Das.”
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The inclusion of India players for the series is yet to be finalised but Hassan said that Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Mohammed Shami have been lined up for both matches, while Virat Kohli and KL Rahul could be set to play one game.
With the Pakistan Super League final clashing with the second of the series’ two games, no Pakistan player has yet been linked with an appearance for the Asia XI.
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Hassan confirmed that Jonny Bairstow and Lungi Ngidi are set to feature for the World XI. “I don’t remember all the names, but we will have three or four players from South Africa,” said Hassan. “Definitely, there will be the same number of players from West Indies. Australia and New Zealand will be playing but we will try to find some (players). Bairstow is definitely coming. Ngidi is coming. Chris Gayle is supposed to play. Faf du Plessis. We will have some of the best players around.”
Alex Hales and Adil Rashid have been linked with appearances for the World XI.
