‘I was pretty certain’: Rishad after PSL call-up

Bangladesh’s leg-spinning all-rounder Rishad Hossain said he was not surprised by his inclusion in the Rawalpindi squad from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 auction on Wednesday, becoming the second Bangladeshi player to secure a franchise spot in this year’s tournament.

He was snapped up by Mohammad Rizwan’s team for PKR 3 crore, edging out competition from Karachi Kings.

A total of 879 cricketers were up for grabs this year, with 50 Bangladeshis entering the auction. Earlier, star pacer Mustafizur Rahman had already been picked by Lahore Qalandars for PKR 6.44 crore.

However, at the time of filing this report, no other Bangladeshi player had secured a PSL contract as T20 captain Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, fast bowler Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam went unsold.

“I was pretty certain that I would be picked for the PSL. They (Rawalpindi) were in contact with me leading up to the auction,” Rishad told Daily Sun after being picked by Rawalpindi.

He also said that the team’s captain Rizwan, with whom Rishad shared the dressing room while playing for Comilla Victorians in the Bangladesh Premier League, had spoken to him beforehand.

“Yes, Rizwan and his manager spoke to me. I am happy that I get to play this year as well,” Rishad added.

Rishad, who is coming off a successful Big Bash League season with the Hobart Hurricanes where he claimed 15 wickets in 11 innings, had earlier represented Lahore Qalandars, where he helped them win the PSL title with 13 wickets in seven matches.