Mickey Arthur to Guide Rangpur Riders’ GSL Title Defence Remotely from England

Mickey Arthur will continue his association with the Rangpur Riders as they prepare to defend their Global Super League (GSL) title next month, but the experienced coach will do so from afar. Currently committed to Derbyshire in the ongoing English County Championship, Arthur will oversee Rangpur’s GSL campaign remotely while stationed in the United Kingdom.

The second season of the GSL, which kicks off on July 10 in Guyana, will feature five teams: Rangpur Riders, Dubai Capitals, Central Stags, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Hobart Hurricanes. Arthur, who coached Rangpur during their victorious inaugural campaign, remains a central figure in the franchise’s plans, despite his physical absence from the Caribbean.

Riders’ team director Shanian Taneem confirmed that Arthur has been actively involved in squad planning and strategy sessions. “Mickey is unavailable due to his Derbyshire commitments, but he remains fully engaged with the team. Greg Smith will serve as the on-ground head coach and will operate under Mickey’s guidance,” Taneem announced during a jersey unveiling ceremony in Dhaka.

“Arthur has been a key part of our setup, both in the GSL and the Bangladesh Premier League. We trust his insights, especially in team formation. While building this season’s squad, we consulted him continuously to evaluate player suitability for Guyana’s conditions,” Taneem added.

Greg Smith, who has worked closely with Arthur in the past, will lead the Riders’ preparations and in-match decisions, supported by Arthur’s remote input throughout the tournament.

Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan will once again captain the side, continuing in the role he has held since 2023. The Riders have retained several key domestic players from their 2024 campaign, including Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, and Harmeet Singh. The overseas lineup includes power-hitters and seasoned internationals such as West Indies’ Kyle Mayers, South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed, and Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran.

However, the omission of Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has raised eyebrows. Shakib, who has not returned to Bangladesh since the fall of the Awami League government last year, was not selected despite his stature and experience in West Indies conditions.

“Shakib is still one of the most valuable players in global franchise cricket,” said Shanian. “We did want him in the team, but the prevailing political climate and his current status made it difficult for us to include him. He is still capable of making any team’s starting XI, but we had to make a call based on the situation.”

Rangpur Riders Squad for GSL 2025:

Nurul Hasan (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim, Mahidul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Saif, Abu Hider, Rakilbul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Kyle Mayers, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ibrahim Zadran, Akif Javed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Harmeet Singh, Khawaja Nafay.