Rangpur Riders have once again enlisted the expertise of seasoned coach Mickey Arthur for the upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), set to kick off in Sylhet on December 26.
The 57-year-old from South Africa, who previously led Rangpur as head coach in the last BPL edition and steered the team in the Global Super League in 2024, will resume his coaching duties in the forthcoming tournament.
Arthur announced his comeback in a video message on Saturday, expressing his enthusiasm for collaborating with the team and reconnecting with Bangladeshi supporters.
“I will be coaching you in this year’s BPL as I did last year and during the GSL victory a few years back. I am eager to return to Bangladesh and work with a talented squad. The fan support was exceptional, and I am excited to see everyone again,” he stated.
In addition to Arthur’s rehiring, the former champions have strengthened their roster by securing the direct signings of a number of prominent overseas players. England’s Dawid Malan, West Indies’ Kyle Mayers, and Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf and Iftikhar Ahmed have joined Rangpur following the players’ auction.
Arthur will be one of only two foreign head coaches in this season’s BPL. Dhaka Capitals had previously appointed Toby Radford as their head coach for the 12th edition, while former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was named as the franchise’s mentor.
The remaining four teams will be under the guidance of local coaches, with Hannan Sarkar leading Rajshahi Warriors, Khaled Mahmud coaching Noakhali Express, Mominul Haque heading Chattogram Royals, and Sohel Islam entrusted with Sylhet Titans.