Khulna Titans to vie for BPL title

Mahmudullah retained as captain

Khulna Titans, one of the franchisees of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), launched their formal journey for the upcoming BPL with a gala ceremony held at the Utshab Banquet Hall, Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden yesterday.

Kazi Inam Ahmed, managing director of Khulna Titans and director of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in his welcome speech expressed his optimism, stating that Khulna Titans will form their team to fight for championship.

“The way we got the supports from people of the Khulna, Jessore and other district of the division along with the fans and its sponsors that was special for us. This year we expect more and more support from them all. Hopefully we will do better more than the previous year,” said Inam Ahmed.

Khulna Titans under the new ownership finished the group phase with second and finally concluded their campaign as third place just after champions Dhaka Dynamites and runner-up Rajshahi Kings last year. 

Former Bangladesh head coach Stuart Law coached the team. But this year Stuart Law will be replaced by Mahela Jayawardene, who succeeded in his first coaching job while he took the charge of Mumbai Indians in IPL after being retired from the international cricket and made them IPL champions. 

To get the big success, Khulna Titans inked a two-year-deal with this legendary cricketer-cum-coach. Sri Lanka-born Mahela though retired from playing career still played charity and friendly games across the world.

Kazi Inam introduced Khulna Titans’ new head coach Mahela Jayawardene, team’s adviser Habibul Bashar Sumon, Team manager Nafees Iqbal coupled with other team’s officials.

“We are very lucky to have him with us. It will be learning not only for the players of the Khulna Titans but also the tournament players,” Kazi Inam told.

The Titans’ managing director thereafter announced that Khulna Titan’s last year icon, all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad, will continue his job for the Khulna Titans as the captain.

“We felt proud to have Mahmuduallah last year. We proudly announced that Riyad will continue for the Khulna Titans as the captain,” the BCB director said.

He also said that Khulna Titans have done some sign up what they have disclosed through facebook and their official website. They are Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Australia Chris Lynn, South Africa Kyle Abott and Rilee Rossouw and Sri Lanka Seekkuge. 

“(I) thank to Inam bhai for giving me captaincy once again. I feel very well. We want to play better cricket. We feel very proud to have Mahela Jayawardene like legend. His cricket career is not unknown to none of us. I am raring to work with him,” Mahmudullah said in his reaction.

Habibul Bashar Sumon said that local players will be benefited much from the appointment of this legendary cricketer-coach.

“This is a big opportunity for the local players. Last we formed a good team. We want to form better side this year. Already we have picked some good foreign players. Along with them, if we could rope in some local potential by players’ draft, it will then be possible to form a more well-balanced side. Hopefully Khulna Titans will do better result more than the past,” Habibul Bashar said in his reaction.

  At the fag end of the programme, the jersey of the Khulna Titans unveiled with the participation of the coaching staffs, captain, owners and sponsors.

As per the rule of the BPL, each team could retain only four local players from the previous selections. Khulna picked only Mahmudullah among them. They will soon disclose the names of the remaining three.

Khulna Titans to vie for BPL title

Mahmudullah retained as captain

Khulna Titans, one of the franchisees of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), launched their formal journey for the upcoming BPL with a gala ceremony held at the Utshab Banquet Hall, Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden yesterday. Kazi Inam Ahmed, managing director of Khulna Titans and director of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in his welcome speech expressed his optimism, stating that Khulna Titans will form their team to fight for championship. The way we got the supports from people of the Khulna, Jessore and other district of the division along with the fans and its sponsors that was special for us. This year we expect more and more support from them all. Hopefully we will do better more than the previous year, said Inam Ahmed. Khulna Titans under the new ownership finished the group phase with second and finally concluded their campaign as third place just after champions Dhaka Dynamites and runner-up Rajshahi Kings last year. Former Bangladesh head coach Stuart Law coached the team. But this year Stuart Law will be replaced by Mahela Jayawardene, who succeeded in his first coaching job while he took the charge of Mumbai Indians in IPL after being retired from the international cricket and made them IPL champions. To get the big success, Khulna Titans inked a two-year-deal with this legendary cricketer-cum-coach. Sri Lanka-born Mahela though retired from playing career still played charity and friendly games across the world. Kazi Inam introduced Khulna Titans new head coach Mahela Jayawardene, teams adviser Habibul Bashar Sumon, Team manager Nafees Iqbal coupled with other teams officials. We are very lucky to have him with us. It will be learning not only for the players of the Khulna Titans but also the tournament players, Kazi Inam told. The Titans managing director thereafter announced that Khulna Titans last year icon, all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad, will continue his job for the Khulna Titans as the captain. We felt proud to have Mahmuduallah last year. We proudly announced that Riyad will continue for the Khulna Titans as the captain, the BCB director said. He also said that Khulna Titans have done some sign up what they have disclosed through facebook and their official website. They are Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Australia Chris Lynn, South Africa Kyle Abott and Rilee Rossouw and Sri Lanka Seekkuge. (I) thank to Inam bhai for giving me captaincy once again. I feel very well. We want to play better cricket. We feel very proud to have Mahela Jayawardene like legend. His cricket career is not unknown to none of us. I am raring to work with him, Mahmudullah said in his reaction. Habibul Bashar Sumon said that local players will be benefited much from the appointment of this legendary cricketer-coach. This is a big opportunity for the local players. Last we formed a good team. We want to form better side this year. Already we have picked some good foreign players. Along with them, if we could rope in some local potential by players draft, it will then be possible to form a more well-balanced side. Hopefully Khulna Titans will do better result more than the past, Habibul Bashar said in his reaction. At the fag end of the programme, the jersey of the Khulna Titans unveiled with the participation of the coaching staffs, captain, owners and sponsors. As per the rule of the BPL, each team could retain only four local players from the previous selections. Khulna picked only Mahmudullah among them. They will soon disclose the names of the remaining three.