Cricket is set to revive its own version of a Champions League-style tournament with the upcoming Global Super League (GSL), a format reminiscent of the past but long absent from the cricketing calendar. Five teams from different countries have been finalized, and Bangladesh will be represented by the Rangpur Riders.

While the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions, Fortune Barishal, declined to participate, and runner-up Comilla Victorians opted out of the next BPL season, Rangpur Riders were quick to seize the opportunity. As a result, Rangpur will join teams from four other countries in this global T20 showdown.

The other four teams in the league include the Caribbean Premier League’s (CPL) runner-up Guyana Amazon Warriors, Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Lahore Qalandars, England’s T20 Blast team Hampshire Hawks, and Australia's state team Victoria.

The tournament will kick off with a match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Lahore Qalandars, running from November 26 to December 7. All matches will be played at Guyana’s Providence Stadium, with the top two teams progressing to the final. The format will follow a round-robin league structure, with each team playing the others once.

Hampshire Hawks' Director of Cricket, Giles White, expressed his excitement about the tournament, stating, "This league represents Guyana’s ambition to become a reliable hub for global sports. International club competitions have been very successful in other sports, and cricket has long needed such a platform."

Supported by Cricket West Indies and the government of Guyana, the GSL comes with a prize pool of $1 million, adding further incentive for participating teams.

However, some scheduling conflicts may affect the availability of key players. During the Global Super League, Bangladesh’s national team will be playing a two-match Test series against the West Indies, running from November 22 to December 4. Notably, Rangpur's Hasan Mahmud, who played for the team in the previous BPL season, is expected to be part of the national squad for this series, along with pacer Nahid Rana. Whether they will be able to skip international duty to play for Rangpur remains uncertain.

Similarly, Pakistan’s tour of South Africa, starting December 10, could impact players like Babar Azam, who played for Rangpur Riders last season, and Lahore Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Shah Afridi. Caribbean players such as Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, and Kevin Sinclair, who are regulars in Guyana's Test team, may also face conflicts during the tournament.

Additionally, the Abu Dhabi T10 League, scheduled from November 21 to December 2, may clash with the Global Super League. Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who played for Rangpur in the last BPL season, is expected to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10, adding another layer of uncertainty regarding his availability.