Mehedi to replace Hogg in Trinbago Knight Riders squad

Mehedi Hasan’s swift rise in the ranks of world cricket has taken another step, after the Bangladesh off-spinner was named Brad Hogg’s replacement in the Trinbago Knight Riders’ squad for Caribbean Premier League 2017.

Mehedi, however, could miss a few matches of the league, which will start from August 3, as the tournament is likely to clash with a scheduled home series against Pakistan.

Mehedi believes the stint will make him a better player. “I am really happy to have got this opportunity,” Mehedi said. “I will get to play with really good cricketers in that tournament. It will improve my standard of cricket.”

Mehedi is the third Bangladesh cricketer to play in the league after Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Tamim played only the inaugural season in 2013, while Shakib has played two seasons so far and is set to turn out for Jamaica Tallawahs in the fifth edition of the tournament. Other Bangladeshi players who have been picked by overseas franchises to play in a T20 league include Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Mustafizur Rahman.

Mehedi’s first few appearances in international cricket were in Test matches, following an impressive debut series at home against England where he picked 19 wickets in two matches. He made his ODI and T20 debuts on Bangladesh’s recent tour of Sri Lanka. His domestic T20 debut came in the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League, where he took 12 wickets in 15 matches for Rajshahi Kings. (ESPNCricinfo)