Ariful to play in PJL

Bangladesh’s age-level cricketer Ariful Islam will play for the Gujranwala Giants in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Junior League said a Bangladesh Cricket Board official.

AEM Kawser, BCB’s game development manager, told The Business Post that there was a cut-off date for eligibility in the upcoming franchise-based T20 tournament where only Ariful qualified.

“When Pakistan Cricket Board asked names from us, we proposed some names from the squad of last U-19 World Cup. Among them, only Ariful qualified as there was a cut-off date. Those born on or after September 1 2003 are qualified to play in the tournament,” he said on Saturday.

Ariful told The Business Post that possibly his century against Pakistan in the last U-19 World Cup got him the chance.

“I scored a hundred against Pakistan in the World Cup. Maybe that’s why they chose me. I am very excited to play there as there will be many age-level cricketers from around the world, a big learning platform for me,” said the right-handed batsman, who scored two centuries in the World Cup.

The tournament will start on October 6. In the Gujranwala team, there will be two more international cricketers. They are- Tom Aspinwall from England and Shevon Daniel from Sri Lanka.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik will serve as the mentor of the Gujranwala Giants team.