Cricket is truly becoming an innovative sport and Rangpur Riders are set to take it a step further with the announcement that their coach, Mickey Arthur, will continue to perform his duties without being anywhere near Guyana when the second season of the Global Super League (GSL) begins next month.
Mickey Arthur will be about 7,500 kilometers away in Derbyshire, England, where he continues as head coach of Derbyshire’s County Championship side. From there, he will watch matches, communicate with the team, and help shape tactics as Rangpur look to defend their title.
This tactic isn’t even new for Arthur, who worked with Rangpur last season when they won the inaugural GSL. He used a similar arrangement when he was Pakistan’s team director in 2023 while also coaching Derbyshire.
Rangpur’s team director, Shanian Taneem, explained during the squad’s jersey unveiling in Dhaka that Arthur’s remote role is not a problem for them.
“As the English County Championship is ongoing and Mickey Arthur is coaching Derbyshire County Cricket Club, he is unavailable at the moment,” Shanian said. “Therefore, we are appointing Greg Smith as our head coach. He is someone Mickey fully trusts. Mickey will stay connected with the players and continue to offer his input. Greg will lead the team under Mickey’s guidance.”
Rangpur Riders, meanwhile, also officially confirmed their squad for the upcoming GSL season during the same press conference. Pakistan’s Akif Javed, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Khawaja Nafay will also be on the plane to the Caribbean next month.
Rangpur Riders Squad for GSL 2025
| Nurul Hasan (captain) | Soumya Sarkar | Mohammad Naim | Mahidul Islam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamrul Islam Rabbi | Mohammad Saif | Abu Hider | Rakilbul Hasan |
| Yasir Ali | Kyle Mayers | Tabraiz Shamsi | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Akif Javed | Iftikhar Ahmed | Harmeet Singh | Khawaja Nafay |
While it may seem unusual to have a head coach working remotely, this is not new for Mickey Arthur or for modern franchise cricket. Technology allows coaches to watch live streams, share plans, and talk to players between innings.
Mickey Arthur’s experience and trust in his staff mean Rangpur believe they can repeat last year’s success—even if their coach is thousands of kilometers away. If it is successful, more and more teams may opt to adopt the same approach, especially given the packed franchise and international calendar.
For Rangpur Riders, the mission is clear: defend the title and show that distance is no barrier to good cricket planning.
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