Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise, Sylhet Sixers have appointed swashbuckling batsman David Warner as their skipper for the upcoming edition of the league, scheduled to start from January 5.
Meanwhile, Warner was one of Sylhet’s two direct overseas picks along with Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane. The dashing southpaw is currently serving a 12-month ban imposed on him by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. Although he couldn’t take part in the IPL, but has kept himself playing in T20 leagues around the world. He recently took part in the Caribbean Premier League and Global Canada T20.
He made just 109 runs in eight innings at a strike-rate of 114.73 for Winnipeg Hawks in the GLT20 and followed it up with 220 runs in nine innings at a strike-rate of 111.67 for St Lucia Stars in the CPL.
Sylhet will want Warner to fire in the tournament as he gears up for an international return. He will be replacing the Bangladeshi all-rounder Nasir Hossain as the captain of the team.
“This year it would going to be a highly competitive season. We want to fully employ the experience and ability of a skilled performer like Warner. Hope the team will be benefitted,” Sylhet Sixers’ Chief Executive Officer Yasir Obaed said to Prothom Alo.
“Warner has the experience of playing in mega-franchise Twenty20 leagues around the globe. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the Indian Premier League title in 2016 under Warner’s captaincy which is a definitive reason behind selecting him as the captain of Sylhet Sixers,” he added.
Steven Smith will join David Warner in the league, who had earlier signed up with Comilla Victorians. The duo’s ban from top-flight cricket ends on March 29, 2019.