Bhairahawa Gladiators’ announcement of singing the Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate on Monday fuelled more fire to the growing list of international cricketers for the Everest Premier League this season.

Batting allrounder Doeschate, who has won the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders, joins a long list of international cricketers that include Richard Levi of South Africa, Kyle Coetzer of Scotland, Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien of Ireland for the city-based franchise Twenty20 cricket tournament scheduled for December 8 kick off at the Tribhuvan University Stadium.

Ten Doeschate is probably the biggest name joining EPL in terms of experience having featured in 320 Twenty20s, the most by any Associate cricketer. His nomadic cricket career has guided him to almost every franchise leagues across the world. He has also played in the Australian Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistani Super League and HRV Cup in New Zealand.

“A genuine batsman with five ODI centuries and nine half centuries from 33 One Day Internationals (ODIs), Doeschate also has the knack of picking up wickets through his medium fast bowling,” Gladiators said in a press statement. Doeschate has also played 174 First Class matches, 210 List A and 10 Twenty20 Internationals.

In a team led by national middle order mainstay Sharad Vesawkar, one of the most successful captains in domestic Twenty20 leagues, Gladiators will also have the services of fast bowling allrounder Mohammad Naveed of the United Arab Emirates and Ravi Inder Singh of India. The 31-year old Naveed has played 32 ODIs, 23 Twenty20 Internationals, 73 List A along with 33 Twenty20s and seven First Class matches. Singh is a classy batsman who represented Punjab in the India’s premier First Class cricket: Ranji Trophy. He has played 45 First Class matches, 37 List A and 28 Twenty20s.

Singh’s performance was crucial when his 90 runs handed Pokhara Paltan the title of inaugural Pokhara Premier League, the latest addition to Nepal’s Twenty20 leagues. The only release for Gladiators from their last squad is Harjit Singh, who was selected through a talent hunt programme last year.

Gladiators on Saturday held a talent hunt programme in Bhairahawa and picked up former U-16 spin sensation Anil Kharel and U-19 batsman Kushal Malla. Aarif Sheikh, Rohit Kumar Paudel, Pradeep Airee, Avinash Bohora, Bhuwan Karki, Krishna Karki, Prakash KC, Hari Shankar Sah, Dipesh Shrestha and Bhupendra Thapa are the other members in the squad. Gladiators finished runners-up in the previous edition where they lost to Paras Khadka-led Biratnagar Warriors in the final. Lalitpur Patriots, Pokhara Rhinos, Kathmandu Kings XI and Chitwan Tigers are the other teams in the EPL.