Dhaka: National star cricketer Mahmudullah Riyad has been kept as the captain of franchised team Khulna Titans for the next round eight-team Bangladesh Premier League which is expected to begin on November 4 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Besides, it hired former Sri Lanka cricket team captain Mahela Jayarwardene as the coach for two years.

Managing Director of the franchise Kazi Inam Ahmed introduced Jayarwardene and Mahmudullah as the coach and the captain of Khulna Titans at a press conference in a city hotel on Wednesday afternoon.

Former captain of the Bangladeshi cricket team and Titans advisor Habibul Bashar Sumon was also present.

Including three Pakistani cricketers -- Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Junaid Khan--Khulna Titans signed up seven foreign players for the 5th edition BPL. Chris Lynn (Australia), Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott (South Africa) and Seekkuge Prasanna (Sri Lanka) are the other four foreign players of Khulna Titans, Inam Ahmed informed.

Mahmudullah who signed as iconic player for Khulna Titans and captained the side in the seven-team 4th edition, said, "I'm happy to stay with Khulna Titans and hope we will play better than before."

"I'm excited to work with Jayarwardene. It's a great opportunity for me to learn from him (Jayarwardene) as much as I can," said Mahmudullah.

Jayarwardene said, "Bangladesh is like my home, I played first here in 1914. Now appearing as a coach of a BPL T20 team, we have signed some good cricketers, we are exciting to face the challenges."

"It is not only a job for me, but also an opportunity to contribute to the game of cricket. We want to enjoy the game, no matter we win or loss," Jayarwardene added.

In the last edition BPL, Khulna Titans finished 3rd losing to defending runners-up Rajshahi Kings by 7 wickets in the eliminator game.