Rangpur Riders sign England batsman Alex Hales

Two years since pulling out of England’s tour of Bangladesh due to security fears, Alex Hales has now opted to travel for the upcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League. Rangpur Riders – who retained Chris Gayle, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nazmul Islam and Mohammad Mithun – have snapped him up as the first of the two signings from outside the draft.

“We have signed Hales for the upcoming edition of BPL. We are expecting him to be available throughout the tournament,” Riders CEO Ishtiaque Sadeque told Cricbuzz.

Hales walks into a dressing room with a familiar face in coach Tom Moody, who is also his coach at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. After having secured the services of Hales, sources within the Riders reckon they’re trying to rope in AB de Villiers as the second outside-the-draft signing.

With the revamped schedule of the BPL – set to be played in early January – however, it will clash with Big Bash League and the UAE T20 tournament. Hence, should de Villiers sign, he will be available only for the last seven to nine fixtures of the tournament once he completes his BBL stint.