Legspinner Rishad Hossain made a debut to remember in franchise cricket, finishing with 13 wickets in just seven matches for eventual champions Lahore Qalandars in the just-concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL).

This is the third-best debut by a Bangladeshi player in franchise cricket. Shakib Al Hasan took 19 wickets in Vitality Blast T20 cricket in England for Worcestershire's debut season in 2011.

Pacer Mustafizur Rahman is in the list as the second best, having scalped 17 wickets for his debut season with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2016.

Rishad has the chance to topple his two senior mates, but he had to leave the PSL in the midst of the tournament due to his national commitment as Bangladesh had the series with UAE.

In the first phase, he took nine wickets in four matches. He later rejoined the side during playoffs and took four wickets in three matches. His performance was instrumental in helping Lahore Qalandars to seal the PSL title.

Rishad finished as 10th position amongst the bowlers in this season in PSL by playing just seven matches. His average is also fifth best amongst the bowlers who bowled at least 20 overs.

MSH

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.