Tournament: Cricket NL Summer League 2025
Formats: T10 | T20 | F40
Captain: Fahad Hossain (WK)
Key Honours:
– Summer League T20 Champions (2021)
– President’s Cup Winners (2022)
– F40 League Champions (2021 & 2022)
Winning Culture Meets Redemption Season
With a cabinet full of silverware and a reputation built on consistency across formats, the NL Tigers enter 2025 as one of the most decorated teams in Newfoundland cricket. However, the 2024 campaign, especially in the newly introduced T10 format exposed some cracks. Plagued by unavailability and injuries, the squad struggled to live up to its own high standards.
This season, however, promises a reset. With key players returning, young talent rising, and a more balanced squad, the Tigers are primed to reassert themselves across T10, T20, and F40 competitions.
Top Order Pillars: A Blend of Power and Consistency
At the top, few duos in the province have combined for the kind of impact that Muhammad Ali Raza and Maanik Arora have when opening together. Between them, while batting side by side, they’ve amassed over 3600 runs across formats spear-heading innings, building platforms, and dismantling attacks.
Their crowning moment came in an F40 clash against NL Wolves, where they stitched together a stunning 224-run stand off 136 balls for the 4th wicket, chasing down a daunting 275/9. It remains a record partnership across all clubs in Cricket NL history.
After a season away, Ali Raza’s return has already paid dividends. In his comeback innings during the T10 opener, he blasted 40+ runs, including six towering sixes, showing no signs of rust and plenty of intent.
Abrar Shafi and Junayed Tushar, another solid presence in the top order, add depth and stability with an ability to adapt between formats, clean strikers with a calm heads under pressure.
Middle Order Backbone: Dependable Hands in the Chaos
While the top order lays the foundation, the Tigers’ middle order features utility batters who can stabilize or accelerate depending on the match situation. In particular, Fahan Hossain (c) Junaid Haque, and Hasnain Kabbya bring much-needed balance—each with the ability to chip in with crucial runs when the top falters.
- Fahad Hossain, skipper this season, has been the heartbeat of the Tigers’ middle order, amassing over 1200 runs at an impressive average above 35 and a strike rate exceeding 130. His calm under pressure and knack for timing chases has seen him close out numerous matches for the club.
- Junaid Haque, another left hander, who is technically an anchoring middle-order option who can rotate strike when needed.
- Hasnain Kabbya, still developing his game, has shown promise with the bat—particularly in the back end of innings.
Together, they form a safety net for the batting order, offering flexibility in match-ups and game scenarios. Whether it’s anchoring the innings or rebuilding after early losses, this duo gives the Tigers tactical depth and stability.
Spin Engine: Subtlety, Skill, and Control
The Tigers’ spin duo of Junayed Tushar and Ibnul Inan have quietly become the team’s most effective middle-overs operators. Both rank among the top spin wicket-takers for the club across all formats:
- Junayed – a clever right-arm spinner, known for his flight and accuracy, with over 80 wickets in club cricket and a consistent economy under 5.5 in F40s.
- Ibnul – with his slow left-arm orthodox, also the highest wicket taker for his club, thrives in containing and striking roles alike, contributing 85+ wickets, often delivering breakthroughs just when needed.
Their ability to choke runs and build pressure allows the pacers to attack more freely at the death.
Pace Department: Power, Precision, and Experience
The Tigers have no shortage of pace options in 2025. At the helm is Indranil Mallick, the club’s most seasoned campaigner and its leading pacer with over 80 wickets at an average of just over 18. He strikes more than once per match across formats and brings invaluable control in high-pressure situations.
Backing him is a supporting cast:
- Nasib Rahman, Imran Ahmed, and Sadman Muhtasim — reliable right-arm fast-medium bowling all-rounders.
- Borshojoyti Binit – a strike-focused right-arm quick who thrives in short formats.
- Mahe Alam Choudhary, clocked as the fastest bowler in the squad and one of the fastest bowler in the province, offers raw pace that can rattle top orders.
- Mashrur Talha, a rising speedster, adds depth and freshness to the pace battery.
Wicketkeeping & Fielding Unit
Skipper Fahad Hossain, behind the stumps, anchors the team’s defensive efforts. With nearly 50 dismissals to his name—catches, stumpings, and run-outs—he’s the most successful fielder in the squad’s history. His dual role as wicketkeeper and captain will give the Tigers strong tactical leadership and unmatched presence on the field.
Player to Watch: Rifat Maruf
If there’s one player poised to break out this summer, it’s Rifat Maruf. A specialist leg-spinner with a knack for attacking the stumps, he already has 30+ wickets in outdoor league cricket and enters 2025 with growing confidence. His variations in pace and length make him a particularly dangerous option in T10s and T20s, where wicket-taking impact matters most.
Tactical Outlook: All Formats, All-In
The Tigers are built to compete in every format, with balance in both batting and bowling, a healthy mix of experience and youth, and plenty of match-winners.
Their T10 debut in 2024 was a tough learning curve, but this season, expect a much sharper outfit. With their core back in action, and the squad firing on all cylinders, the Tigers are legitimate title threats once again in T10, T20, and F40.
Squad:
Fahad Hossain (C), Muhammad Ali Raza, Maanik Arora, Imran Ahmed, Junayed Tushar, Junaid Haque, Rahi Chowdhury, Indranil Mallick, Ibnul Inan, Borshojoyti Binit, Rifat Maruf, Abrar Shafi, Sadman Muhtasim, Hasnain Kabbya, Ashraful Azam, Abdullah Fateen, Nasib Rahman, Shahrukh Ayan, Mashrur Talha