BPL is more fun and shorter than BBL, claims Andre Russell

Newly-appointed Rajshahi Royals skipper Andre Russell is extremely upbeat about leading the side and believes that the BPL is more fun than BBL of Australia because of its shorter duration that keeps Russell away from home for a short time. 

"The tournament is more fun and it is shorter and so less time away from home," Russell told Cricbuzz.

"I get a lot of love here. The hospitality and everything is amazing. You get a warm welcome on this side of the world. I never really think twice. Once I heard this was happening, new rules, new teams, new owners and new franchise. I was interested to be part of it. I wanted to get the ball rolling," he added.

Russell has previously won the BPL with Comilla Victorians and Dhaka Dynamites and has had abundant experience when it comes to playing big games and crunch situations. He has also had the experience of captaincy as he has captained the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Carribean Premier League.

"I am honoured to be given the responsibility of leading the team. Regardless, I always look at myself as a player in the heat. I have a very big role in any team I play for. It is going to be something new for me outside the Caribbean. I have led Jamaica Tallawahs before. It will be interesting and I am up for a challenge," Russell asserted.

Royals' squad consists of seasoned T20 pros like Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara and Hazratullah Zazai who have played T20 tournaments around the world and will add a wealth of experience to the squad. Russell believes that their chances of going far in the tournament will be high if they punch above their weight. The Royals will play their first game against Dhaka Platoon on December 12.

"I won't say we have the best squad but we have a good team on paper. It is a good start for any captain, coach and any team. We want to use the experience of each player, which will put us in the right foot. We have a few good local talents. I have been watching videos, seeing what they can do. We have a balanced squad including local and international fast bowlers. We have good options," Russell concluded.