New Brighton has signed former Bangladesh international spinner Arafat Sunny for their 2022 Liverpool and District Cricket Competition.
Prolific
Arafat Sunny has been one of Bangladeshi domestic cricket’s most prolific spinners over the past two decades. Since his first-class debut in 2001, aged 15 years, 4 months, and 9 days, he has taken well over 600 wickets.
International honours
After years of domestic toil, including 50 wickets at 20.35 during the 2011/12 season, Sunny was finally rewarded with national honours, making his T20 and ODI debut’s in February 2014. He went on to take figures of 4-29 and 4.27 in successful ODI’s against Zimbabwe, which proved to be his career-best figures at international level.
Sunny was picked for the 2016 ICC World T20 but was later suspended for an illegal bowling action during the tournament. After a few years modifying his action, Sunny enjoyed a stunning 2018/19 domestic season, across all formats. 31 wickets at 25.83 in first-class cricket, alongside chart-topping BPL and National Cricket League campaigns.
He proved he was still amongst the best tweakers in Bangladesh. Whilst a national recall has eluded him since Sunny remains a key figure for the likes of Rangpur Rangers, Dhaka Metropolis, and Abahani Ltd.
Set for UK return in 2022
It appears his international career has now come to an end, therefore Sunny is seeking opportunities abroad. For starters, he is set to return to England, where he played a stint in Surrey back in 2003 (for the now-defunct club Abahoni). He has signed with New Brighton for their 2022 Liverpool and District Cricket Competition.
