Gladiators announce signings of Sri Lankan duo, Bilal Khan

Published On: March 2, 2020 11:37 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Bhairahawa Gladiators head coach Pubudu Dassanayake speaks during a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday. Photo Courtesy: NSJF

KATHMANDU, Mar 2: Bhairahawa Gladiators announced the signings of Sri Lankan duo Jeevan Mendis and Milinda Siriwardana along with Omani fast bowler Bilal Khan for the third edition of Everest Premier League (EPL) amid a press meet held in Kathmandu on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Siriwardana recently represented Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup held in England and Wales. The left-handed batsman has 5 Tests, 27 ODIs and 22 T20Is for the Sri Lanka national team. A busy middle-order batsman and a capable left-arm spinner, Siriwardana broke through to the national side in 2015 after several years of encouraging domestic returns.

Likewise, the 37-year-old Mendis is a leg-break bowler who bats left handed. He has played 22 T20Is and 58 ODIs for Sri Lanka scoring a half-century for the national side. Mainly a top-order batsman at start of his cricket, Mendis honed his spin-bowling skills with the way he grips the ball. He is also an outstanding fielder.

Similarly, the Omani fast bowler Khan recently toured Nepal with the national team winning all four matches, two each against Nepal and the United States. He picked up seven wickets during the series. He has impressive 51 wickets in 35 T20I matches.

The head coach Pubudu Dassanayake assured that Gladiators has built a strong team.

“The presence of Nepali national players in the squad gives us more reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season. These foreign players will add more strength to the squad,” said Dassanayake during the press-meet.

“I will be with the team for training. I am happy with the team. We need to give a shape to the team ahead of EPL.”

Gladiators also had announced the signing of West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Smith in a non-disclosure contract for the 2020 edition of EPL.

Smith is a Barbadian international cricketer who represented the West Indies in all three formats of the game. Previously, Smith had played for Sussex in England county cricket, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions and the Deccan Chargers in IPL, New South Wales in Australia, Bangladesh Premier League franchise Khulna Royal Bengals and Pakistan Super League’s Peshawar Zalmi.