Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Bangla Tigers as an icon player and has been named captain of the side for the fifth season of the Abu Dhabi T10 League, slated for November this year.
Tigers also named former India fast bowler S Sreesanth as their team's mentor, while former Bangladesh allrounder Aftab Ahmed was named the head coach and Nazmul Abedin Fahim the assistant coach.
West Indies batter Evin Lewis, New Zealand's Colin Munro, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir and Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana are also set to join the franchise along with Shakib.
Shakib, who was recently named Bangladesh captain for Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, has participated in the tournament before, playing five matches for Kerala Knights in the inaugural edition. He has a prolific record in T20s, scoring 5974 runs at a strike rate of 121.59 in 367 matches and picking up 418 wickets at an economy of 6.78.
For Sreesanth, this will be his first coaching stint after he announced his retirement from domestic cricket in March this year.
"It is befitting that Shakib plays for the Bangla Tigers," the team owner Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury said. "He is a fantastic ambassador for Bangladesh cricket. From day one we have been keen to include him in the squad but due to the busy schedule of the national team, we were unable to secure him till this season. He is a dynamic, experienced, dedicated, passionate and motivated player as well as an inspirational captain, who will no doubt lead the squad from the front."
The Tigers, who were led by Faf du Plessis, finished third last season after winning six of their ten matches in the group stage.