Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain became the second-ever Bangladeshi to get a team in South Africa’s SA20, getting signed by defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the fifth edition.

The franchise announced Rishad’s recruitment on Wednesday on their social media pages.

Rishad, who has already competed in overseas franchise competitions like Australia’s Big Bash League, Pakistan’s Pakistan Super League and Canada’s Global League T20, will now ply his trade for the first time in the South African league, which is expected to run from January 17 to February 21 next year.

Prior to Rishad, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was the only other Bangladeshi to get picked up for the tournament.

He was a surprise signing in last year’s auction by Durban Super Giants, who bid close to $29,000 to rope him in.

However, Taijul eventually removed his name from the tournament, owing to a scheduling conflict with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Unlike Taijul, Rishad has been brought on as a direct signing, and has the chance to become the first Bangladeshi to compete in the SA20.

However, he might also have to navigate a scheduling conflict as the next edition of the BPL is set to begin in the January-February window.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal had recently cast doubts over holding the BPL next year, saying there was not “sufficient time to arrange the tournament in the right way”.