Dhaka Capitals sign Shoaib Akhtar as mentor

Dhaka Capitals officials confirmed on Thursday that they have appointed former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar as their mentor for the upcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League.

Akhtar, widely known as the 'Rawalpindi Express' for his fearsome speed, holds the record for the fastest delivery in international cricket. He has previously worked in advisory roles in different T20 leagues.

"We are taking him as a mentor for Dhaka Capitals for the upcoming edition of BPL," Atik Fahad, chief executive officer of Dhaka Capitals, told Cricbuzz on Thursday.

"We have chosen him firstly because of his brand value and second to motivate the players," he added.

"Before the season starts he will come for a couple of days as we have some endorsements with him and he will leave after finishing those endorsements," Fahad said.

"Later during the season he will watch some games and give some guidance to the players, similar to the way we brought Saeed Ajmal last year," he concluded.

The 50-year-old former fast bowler played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 444 international wickets across formats. His presence is expected to inspire the next generation of fast bowlers within the team.

BPL Auction Update

The BPL Governing Council announced that the BPL Players' Auction 2026 will now take place on Sunday, 30 November 2025, from 3pm onwards at the Grand Ballroom, Radisson Blu Dhaka. It was previously scheduled for November 23.

"The new date has been set to ensure smooth coordination among all stakeholders and to deliver a well-organised auction event," the BPL Governing Council said in a statement.