KATHMANDU, Jan 30: Chitwan Tigers has announced the recruitment of Afghanistan’s former international Mohammad Shahzad for the upcoming season of the Everest Premier League (EPL) in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Chitwan Tigers secured the services of Associate and Affiliate Player -of-the-Year of 2016 for the next edition of Nepal’s premium T20 extravaganza slated for March 14-28. 

The Tigers management is excited to get benefit from the experienced stalwart.

“He (Shahzad) will bring quality and experience in the squad. He will be sharing his invaluable experiences with young players in the squad which will be good for Nepali cricket overall. We look forward to a successful campaign,” stated Binita Chaudhary Bhattarai, the director of the Tigers franchise.

Tigers had a dismal record in last two edition of EPL. 

The franchise finished sixth in the 2017 edition losing all its group matches whereas it was knocked out by Bhairahawa Gladiators in the Eliminator in the 2018 edition of the event.

Shahzad holds the record of most dismissals (five) as a wicket-keeper in a single T20I innings. He made his ODI and T20I debut in 2009. 

He holds the unique record of scoring two T20I half-century on the same day. 

On 20 January 2017, during Desert T20 Challenge, he became the first cricket player in history to score two half-centuries against Oman and Ireland on the same day. 

He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Afghanistan's first ever Test match, against India, in June 2018.

The 31-year-old is most remembered for his swashbuckling century against India during the Asia Cup, 2018, out of the team total of 131 runs Afghanistan posted in the match. 

He has played 84 One Day Internationals with a top score of 131 not out including six centuries and 14 half centuries in the format. 

His highest Twenty20 International score is 118 not out having represented Afghanistan in 65 matches.

Shahzad has experiences of playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, T20 League in Abu Dhabi and the Afghanistan Premier League previously. 

Currently, Shahzad is serving a suspension by the Afghanistan Cricket Board for violating its disciplinary rules back in August, 2019. 

The right handed batsman is accused of violating board rules to travel to different countries without its permission.

 
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