Rishad Hossain Excited to Work with Ponting at Hobart Hurricanes Ahead of BBL Season

Bangladesh legspinner Rishad Hossain is set to play in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season with the Hobart Hurricanes and has expressed his excitement about working alongside legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting, who serves as the franchise's head of strategy.

Rishad, who played a key role in Bangladesh's recent 3-0 T20I series win against Afghanistan in Sharjah, was drafted by the Hurricanes after a successful stint with Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 Pakistan Super League. With his availability for the full BBL season confirmed, Rishad is aiming to make the most of the opportunity to develop his skills in foreign conditions.

"As a legspinner, if I get to play in these foreign leagues, it will be good for me and for my bowling," Rishad said during an interaction organised by the Hurricanes. "I'll get opportunities to improve my skills."

Rishad, who grew up watching Ponting play, is particularly eager to learn under the Australian great.

"Ponting was one of my favourite players growing up; I used to watch him play. I'm really looking forward to working with him. More than the players, I'm looking forward to working with Ricky Ponting and playing under his coaching."

In the Bangladesh setup, Rishad has carved out a niche as a middle-overs wicket-taker. It's a role he hopes to replicate for Hobart in the BBL.

"As a legspinner, my job is to take wickets after the powerplay. I hope to continue that in Hobart," he said. "My goal is to create doubt in the batter's mind by using different angles. It's just another variation. I believe in my strengths, and day by day I'm trying to improve – even if it's just by one or two percent – without thinking too much about the future."

Rishad heads into the BBL season in fine form. He has taken at least one wicket in seven of his last eight T20Is, including five in the recent Afghanistan series. His efforts helped Bangladesh secure a commanding 3-0 victory, with fellow spinner Nasum Ahmed being named Player of the Series for his economical bowling.

"They have a lot of world-class bowlers in their side, so we tried to analyse them as much as we could before every game," Rishad said. "We got success [too]."

Beyond his bowling, Rishad is proving to be a valuable all-round asset. His power-hitting ability was showcased last year when he smashed seven sixes in a 30-ball 53 against Sri Lanka. He is also an athletic presence in the field, with his stunning run-out of Abhishek Sharma in the Asia Cup being a standout moment.

"That situation demanded that we take a wicket," Rishad recalled. "I was trying to create an opportunity, maybe with a diving catch or a fielding effort – anything to change the momentum of the game since it was on their side at that time, and it happened."

Bangladesh will next face Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series starting Wednesday, where Rishad is expected to play a key role once again.