Hobart Hurricanes bring back 'outstanding' Rishad Hossain to pair him with Adam Zampa
Hobart Hurricanes have re-signed Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for the 16th edition of the Big Bash League, a season after he finished as their leading wicket-taker.
He will team up with Australia’s Adam Zampa, giving the franchise two specialist leg-spinners.
The franchise announced the move on social media with a photograph and a highlights video from last season, underlining their excitement.
General manager of high performance Salliann Beams said the club were keen to bring the 24-year-old back after his impressive debut season.
Beams explained that the player’s own enthusiasm shaped the decision. “Rishad made it really clear to us that he loved his time in Hobart last season and wanted to come back, and that certainly meant a lot to us,” he said.
Hobart had already signed Australia’s leading leg-spinner Adam Zampa, raising doubts over room for two specialists. Beams explained: “Our list had taken a slightly different shape with the addition of Adam Zampa, but when a player of Rishad’s quality is so determined to return to the Hurricanes, we wanted to explore every opportunity to make that happen.”
Rishad took 15 wickets in 12 matches last season at an average of 20.86 and an economy rate of 7.82, with best figures of three for 26. He was named the franchise’s Player of the Year at the end of the campaign.
“He was outstanding for us last season. To come into the Big Bash for the first time, play every game and finish as our leading wicket-taker showed the quality he has and how quickly he adapted to Australian conditions,” Beams said.
Beams sees the pairing as a tactical advantage. “We now have two high-quality leg-spinners who bring different strengths and give us some really exciting options depending on conditions and match-ups,” he said.
Rishad made it really clear to us that he loved his time in Hobart last season and wanted to come back, and that certainly meant a lot to us.
Salliann Beams, Hobart Hurricanes general manager of high performance
He added: “Adam has been one of the outstanding white-ball bowlers in world cricket for a long period of time, while we saw last summer just how dangerous Rishad can be through the middle overs.”
Rishad was first due to play for Hobart in 2024-25 and signed a contract, but Bangladesh Premier League and international commitments kept him away. Last season the Bangladesh Cricket Board allowed him to skip the BPL to play in the Big Bash.
The 16th edition of the Big Bash League starts on December 12, but Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa ends on December 13, so he can only join afterwards, with the tournament already under way.
He will join a Hobart dressing room that includes Shai Hope, Mitch Owen, Nathan Ellis, Tim David, Beau Webster, Nikhil Chaudhary and Riley Meredith.
HOBART HURRICANES BBL16 SQUAD
Marcus Bean, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain, Nick Hobson, Shai Hope, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Billy Stanlake, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa