Busy West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell landed in Dhaka yesterday when Comilla Victorians were halfway through their first innings against Barisal Bulls. One of the most destructive performers in Twenty20s, Russell will wear the jersey of the Victorians in the evening game against Rangpur Riders today. The Riders are led by ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, Russell’s teammate in the Indian Premier League.
Sources confirmed that Comilla are also in talks with South Africa’s Pakistani-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir although nothing has been finalised yet.
Russell will arrive on the back of a match-winning all-round act – 66 off 23 balls and 4/11 – on Sunday for the Titans in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, South Africa’s domestic competition. His arrival has added a new dimension to the Victorians, who beat Barisal Bulls by seven wickets in the last game to establish their authority at the top of the BPL points table.
Russell however, will be available for just the last two league matches for Comilla as the Caribbean cricketer will return to South Africa to feature in the final of the Ram Slam T20 this Saturday.
Meanwhile, the fragile Dhaka Dynamites batting line-up is also set for an uplift after Mohammad Hafeez arrived on Sunday to play the remainder of the tournament. With three games remaining, Dhaka need to win at least two to secure a berth in the Eliminator. Hafeez will take the field today through Dhaka’s game against Chittagong Vikings, a franchise Hafeez refused to join earlier due to the presence of compatriot Mohammad Amir.