Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan has signed with Pokhara Avengers for the third season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), with the franchise confirming the deal on Wednesday. The 31-year-old, a right-handed batter and off-spinner, arrives with the experience of 78 T20 internationals for Bangladesh and the pedigree of a bowler currently ranked eighth in the ICC T20 international bowling rankings. As reported by RatoPati, the signing hands the Avengers a seasoned international campaigner ahead of the third edition of Nepal's franchise T20 competition, and it stands as a notable early move in the build-up to the new season.
A Statement Signing for the Avengers
Pokhara Avengers announced the agreement on Wednesday, adding a genuine international all-rounder to their roster for the upcoming NPL season. Mehidy's profile makes him an attractive proposition in franchise cricket: he contributes with both bat and ball, and his current position of eighth in the ICC T20 international bowling rankings places him among the most effective bowlers in the shortest format at the international level. For a franchise preparing for only the third season of the competition, securing a player of this calibre is a clear statement of intent about the ambitions the Avengers hold for the campaign ahead.
Mehidy Hasan: Profile at a Glance
- Name: Mehidy Hasan
- Age: 31
- Role: All-rounder
- Batting style: Right-handed
- Bowling style: Off-spin
- T20I experience: 78 matches for Bangladesh
- Current ranking: Eighth in the ICC T20 international bowling rankings
Experience That Counts
What the Avengers gain in Mehidy is a player who has been tested repeatedly at the highest level of the format. Seventy-eight T20 internationals represent years of sustained international selection, and they signal a cricketer who has earned the trust of his national team across changing conditions, oppositions and pressure situations. That accumulated experience is one of the hardest commodities to acquire in franchise cricket, and it tends to show in the composure a player brings to tight overs, decisive phases of a chase and the fine margins that separate winning and losing sides.
His twin skill set also gives the Avengers flexibility as they shape their combinations. As an off-spinner, he offers a proven wicket-taking option, a point underlined by his standing of eighth in the ICC T20 international bowling rankings, a ranking that confirms he is arriving in Nepal not as a nostalgic name but as an active, highly rated performer in the format. With the bat, his right-handed game adds depth to the batting order and gives the team management additional options as they finalise their plans for the season.
A Boost for the Third NPL Season
The Nepal Premier League is now gearing up for its third season, and the arrival of a current top-ten ranked T20 international bowler from neighbouring Bangladesh is exactly the kind of signing that lifts a competition's profile. Franchise tournaments in the region have increasingly attracted established international names, and a player of Mehidy's ranking choosing to play in the NPL speaks to the league's growing reach and appeal. For Nepali cricket followers, the opportunity to watch an active international performer of this stature in franchise colours adds a further layer of interest to the season ahead.
For the Avengers and their supporters, the signing offers tangible reasons for optimism. An all-rounder who combines a wicket-taking bowling discipline with right-handed batting addresses two areas of team-building at once, and his long international career suggests a player well versed in adapting to new teams and environments. The move also underscores the cricketing connections between Nepal and Bangladesh, with the NPL providing the stage for that relationship to be seen up close by fans in Pokhara and across the country.
Looking Ahead
With the announcement made on Wednesday, attention will now turn to how the Avengers build their squad around their new signing for the third NPL season. His off-spin and right-handed batting give the franchise a clear foundation, and his current ranking confirms he arrives as an in-form international performer. For Mehidy, the move opens a new chapter in a career that already includes 78 T20 internationals for Bangladesh, while for NPL followers it provides the chance to watch a bowler ranked among the world's top ten in T20 internationals compete in Nepal this season. Further details of the club's plans for the season are expected to follow in due course.
