Rishad earns maiden SA20 call-up with champions Eastern Cape

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has earned his maiden SA20 call-up after defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape signed him ahead of the fifth edition of South Africa's franchise T20 league.

The three-time champions confirmed Rishad's signing on Wednesday as one of two overseas additions to their squad, alongside Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who will also make his first appearance in the tournament.

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Rishad replaces Afghanistan mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar in the Eastern Cape squad after establishing himself as one of Bangladesh's leading T20 bowlers over the past two years.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup, finishing with 14 wickets, the joint-second highest tally in the tournament alongside Afghanistan star Rashid Khan. Since then, he has become a regular feature in Bangladesh's white-ball sides and has attracted growing interest from franchise leagues around the world.

The defending champions have retained the core of the side that has won three of the four SA20 titles to date, with South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Tristan Stubbs continuing as captain. The squad also includes Proteas internationals Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje and Quinton de Kock, as well as New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne.

Mitchell Marsh's arrival further strengthens an already formidable squad, with the Australian set to feature in the SA20 for the first time.

The fifth SA20 season will begin on January 17, with a mini-auction scheduled for October 7 to fill the remaining places across the six franchises. Sunrisers Eastern Cape have two squad spots still available after completing their latest signings.

Squad: James Coles, Lewis Gregory, Rishad Hossain, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Milne, Matthew Breetzke, Quinton de Kock, Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell van Buuren, CJ King, JP King, Marco Jansen