HAMPSHIRE all-rounder Liam Dawson will play in this year’s Bangladesh Premier League side - despite advice from the Professional Cricketers’ Association not to take part.

Earlier this month, PCA chief executive David Leatherdale released a statement for county players wanting to play at the BPL saying: “Those who do decide to travel as individuals do so at their own risk and, as in previous years, will be required to sign a disclaimer to that effect before they receive a No Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board.”

Dawson’s former Hampshire teammate Benny Howell, the Gloucestershire all-rounder, was the first English player to sign up for the BPL.

Other compatriots include Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel and Riki Wessells. Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara and Andre Russell are also amongst the overseas players.

Dawson, 26, will travel to Bangladesh on Friday and be available for all fixtures up until the competition’s conclusion on December 9.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to joining up with Rangpur Riders – the competition starts in just a few days and Shahid Afridi is in the team too so it’ll be good to go into the team and know him from his time here at Hampshire.

“It’s going to be a good challenge – there’s some very good overseas players in the competition so it’ll be hard work from a cricket point of view but hopefully I can put in some good performances and do myself proud.”

Dawson joins the Riders for the fourth edition of the BPL.

The franchise is coached by former Bangladesh batsman Javed Omar and captained by Afridi, who played for Hampshire in 2011 and 2016.