Indian Cricket League

ICL gets ninth team, Dhaka Warriors

The Indian Cricket League (ICL) on Tuesday announced an all-Bangladeshi team in addition to the launch of the second season of the unsanctioned venture.

The Dhaka Warriors feature some of the top international cricketers to have played for Bangladesh, including former captain Habibul Bashar, former vice-captain Shahriar Nafees, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Aftab Ahmed and Farhad Reza, after the Bangladeshi media reported of a mass exodus recently.

Bashar, who was removed from the captaincy and then dropped from the national side owing to a slump in form, revealed that he and his teammates had announced their retirement from international cricket due to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s policy of not allowing players with ICL links to represent their country.

“Yes, it has been the biggest news emerging from Bangladesh,” Bashar said after being unveiled by the ICL on Tuesday. But terming us as ‘villains’ is unfair. There is plenty of talent in Bangladesh. In fact, we are also available to play for Bangladesh but because of their policy.”

ICL Chairman Kapil Dev, who has been critical of the BCCI’s stand against the Zee Group venture, was hopeful of getting rid of the ‘rebel’ tag associated with the league, and urged cricket boards as well as the ICC to recognise the parallel body.

Tags: Dhaka Warriors, Habibul Bashar, ICL, Kapil Dev