Ahead of First Game in PKL Season 11, Bengal Warriorz Captain Fazel Atrachali Opens Up About Playing with Maninder Singh

Hyderabad, 19 October, 2024: The Bengal Warriorz are set to begin their PKL 11 campaign in a blockbuster clash against the Jaipur Pink Panthers on Sunday, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. 

Ahead of their opening clash, new captain, Fazel Atrachali, is confident that his team can get their hands on the trophy this season. The Iranian, who is nothing short of a PKL legend, is confident of a good showing from his new side. 

The Sultan of Kabaddi is a two-time PKL champion and is the player with the most successful tackles and tackle points in the history of the league. When asked about his thoughts for the upcoming PKL season, Fazel said, “I think this season will be very good for us because we have a balanced team, and everything is good in the Bengal Warriorz setup. Our defence is good, our raiders are good. So, I think it will be a very good season for us and we have a chance to be a champion. This is my idea.”

The Iranian has his eyes set on another title this season, this time with his new franchise and new teammates. Speaking on his expectations for the season, he said, “I just want to be a champion with Bengal Warriorz. Firstly, I want my team to win, and secondly, I want to play well and play better than I did in the previous seasons. For the team, I want my team to be champion. That will be great for us for this season.”

Signed by the Bengal Warriorz in the PKL11 Auction, Fazel has seamlessly fit in with his new franchise. The camaraderie between the veteran and his new teammates has been evident in the build-up to the season, especially between him and Maninder Singh. When asked about how exciting it might be to play alongside one of PKL’s best raiders, Fazel said, “Yes, I am very excited. In the last four or five years whenever I saw Maninder, I always told him - One day, we should play together.”

“I am very happy because we have players like Maninder and Nitesh, who bring a wealth of experience to the team. We always need some experience in the team because when there is only one senior player in a team, all the pressure is on that player. But now with someone like Maninder, when he is in the team, the feeling is very good because he is a dynamic player and a natural leader. He can lead the team when I am not on the mat. So, I'm very happy that I am playing with him”, he signed off.