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| Dhaka Gladiators | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dhaka Gladiators |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Dissolved | 2013 |
| Owner | Cosmo Group |
| City | Dhaka |
| Ground | Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Competition | Bangladesh Premier League |
Dhaka Gladiators were a franchise Twenty20 cricket team based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that competed in the inaugural seasons of the Bangladesh Premier League. They won the first two BPL titles and featured a mix of Bangladeshi internationals and overseas professionals, playing home fixtures at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium and attracting attention across South Asian cricket circuits.
Formed ahead of the 2012 Bangladesh Premier League launch, the club drew investment from the Cosmo Group and joined franchises representing Khulna Division, Chittagong Division, Rajshahi Division, Sylhet Division, Comilla, and Barisal. In the 2012 season they defeated Barisal Burners and Chittagong Kings opponents en route to beating Barisal Burners in the final, while the 2013 campaign saw clashes with rivals such as Sylhet Royals and Duronto Rajshahi before securing a second consecutive championship. The side featured international names linked to franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Sydney Sixers, and Lancashire County Cricket Club through player movements and transfer negotiations.
The team's home was the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, the national venue used for Test cricket and One Day International fixtures hosted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Facilities at the complex included floodlit pitches used in tournaments involving teams such as England cricket team, Australia cricket team, Pakistan national cricket team, and visiting sides from West Indies cricket team. Practice nets and training areas were shared with domestic competitions like the National Cricket League and Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
The franchise adopted blue and gold colors, aligning with merchandising and promotion across venues such as Bangabandhu National Stadium and events broadcast on channels including ESPNcricinfo, ESPN Star Sports, and T sports. The crest incorporated Dhaka iconography resonant with institutions such as Dhaka University and civic landmarks like Ahsan Manzil to appeal to local supporters. Kit suppliers and sponsors negotiated contracts with companies operating in Bangladesh and the broader South Asian market, similar to arrangements made by Royal Challengers Bangalore and other Twenty20 franchises.
The Gladiators' roster combined national representatives from the Bangladesh national cricket team—including players who had played against squads like India national cricket team and Sri Lanka national cricket team—with international recruits from leagues in England, Australia, and Pakistan Super League. Prominent names included leading Bangladeshi batsmen and bowlers who had played in competitions such as the Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20, alongside overseas players who had appeared for sides like Essex County Cricket Club and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
Coaching appointments involved personnel with experience in domestic and international structures including the Bangladesh Cricket Board and coaching pathways linked to Marylebone Cricket Club programs. Support staff encompassed physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, analysts familiar with platforms used by International Cricket Council, and managers experienced in coordinating with broadcasters such as Star Sports and event organizers for tournaments like the Indian Premier League.
2012: Champions after playoff victories against franchises that featured players with histories in England ODI series and Australia Test series. 2013: Retained the title following group-stage dominance and playoff success over teams containing international talent from South Africa national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team. The seasons included high-profile encounters against franchises whose squads included veterans of tournaments like the Caribbean Premier League and Big Bash League.
Individual milestones achieved by Gladiators players included leading run-scorers and wicket-takers for the franchise across BPL seasons, joining statistical company associated with tournaments tracked by ESPNcricinfo and ICC databases. Team records encompassed highest totals, largest victories, and playoff win percentages relative to contemporaneous franchises such as Duronto Dhaka and Barisal Burners.
The franchise's tenure was marred by wider league controversies involving franchise ownership and player signing irregularities that implicated entities under scrutiny by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and led to restructuring across the Bangladesh Premier League. Following investigations and administrative changes similar to governance reviews seen in other leagues, the Gladiators were effectively dissolved before subsequent BPL seasons, with many players redistributed to other franchises like Comilla Victorians and Dhaka Dynamites for future contests.
Category:Cricket teams in Bangladesh Category:Bangladesh Premier League teams