In the opening match of the Lanka Premier League, Towhid Hridoy made an impressive debut in overseas franchise cricket, leading Jaffna Kings to a 21-run victory over Colombo Strikers on Sunday.

Batting first after being asked to do so, the explosive Bangladesh batter, Towhid Hridoy, anchored Jaffna’s innings with a remarkable 54 off 39 balls. His innings included three fours and a six, becoming the highest scorer for the team, while Dunith Wellalage contributed with an unbeaten 25 runs, the second-highest score.

Despite a strong start to their run-chase, Colombo Strikers, without Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam in their side, fell short, being bowled out for 152 in 19.4 overs. Niroshan Dickwella’s remarkable 58 off 34 balls was the standout performance for Colombo.

Besides Hridoy and Shoriful, two other Bangladeshi cricketers, Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Mithun, are also part of this year’s LPL roster.

In another significant milestone, Bangladeshi umpire Gazi Sohel made his debut in a foreign franchise league during this match.

Bangladesh’s middle-order batsman, Towhid Hridoy, is all set to make his debut in the Lanka Premier League 2023, scheduled to commence later this month. Representing the defending champions, Jaffna Kings, Hridoy will join the team as a replacement for the veteran Pakistan all-rounder, Shoaib Malik, and will be available for the first six games of the season.

This overseas Twenty20 league opportunity is a significant milestone for Hridoy, marking his first foray into international T20 cricket. Shoaib Malik is currently participating in the ongoing Global T20 League in Canada and will join Jaffna Kings on August 8. In Malik’s absence, Hridoy will have at least six games to showcase his skills and contribute to the LPL side.

Confirming his availability with Jaffna, Hridoy mentioned that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has already issued him the No Objection Certificate (NOC). If everything goes as planned, he is scheduled to travel to Colombo on Friday, July 28.

The Lanka Premier League’s fourth edition will kick off next Sunday, with Jaffna Kings facing Colombo Strikers in the opening game at R Premadasa Stadium.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s fast bowler, Taskin Ahmed’s participation in the LPL. Taskin has received an offer from Dambulla Aura, but the BCB is yet to decide on granting the NoC. Taskin is currently in Zimbabwe, playing for Bulawayo Braves in the ongoing Zim-Afro T10 League.