BPL 2026: Shoaib Akhtar joins Dhaka Capitals as mentor

The Dhaka Capitals have appointed former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar as their team mentor for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 season. Notably, this records Aktar's first-ever involvement in the BPL in any capacity.

The 50-year-old, who still holds the record for the fastest delivery in international cricket, has been involved in advisory roles across multiple T20 leagues. However, he had never featured in the BPL, neither as a mentor nor as a coach. With teams beginning to build their squads well ahead of the auction, the Dhaka Capitals have decided to add the former to their think tank. 

Meanwhile, the BPL Governing Council has also announced a change in the BPL 2026 Player Auction date, rescheduling it from November 23 to November 30, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Dhaka. This adjustment looks to ensure better coordination among stakeholders ahead of the league’s 12th edition. Dhaka Capitals CEO Atik Fahad confirmed the signing on Thursday, emphasising the two primary reasons behind bringing Akhtar on board.

"We are taking him as a mentor for Dhaka Capitals for the upcoming edition of BPL. We have chosen him firstly because of his brand value and second to motivate the players. Before the season starts he will come for a couple of days as we have some endorsements with him and he will leave after finishing those endorsements. Later during the season he will watch some games and give some guidance to the players like the way we brought Saeed Ajmal last year and his role is quite similar to that," Atik Fahad, chief executive officer of Dhaka Capitals said.

Akhtar to have hybrid role with Dhaka Capitals

The franchise also clarified that Akhtar will have a hybrid role. He is expected to arrive before the season begins for a short stint to fulfil endorsement commitments. He will then return during the tournament to watch matches and provide guidance to players, similar to the advisory role Saeed Ajmal played for the franchise last season.

With 444 international wickets across 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20Is, Akhtar’s expertise will be crucial for the Capitals’ setup. The Dhaka Capitals have already begun strengthening their squad ahead of the auction. The franchise recently secured the services of England’s Alex Hales, along with Pakistan’s Usman Khan, who impressed last season for Chattogram Kings. Local talents Saif Hassan and Taskin Ahmed have also been signed through direct contracts.