Mustafizur still considered as vital for team success

DHAKA – Mustafizur Rahman might be irregular in all three formats of the cricket currently but he still remains the vital cog of Bangladesh team, said the chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu.

Even though he lost his aura, partly due to his recurring injury and largely due to the batsmen’s ability to decode his cutter and slower, Minhajul believes, the bowler, nicknamed as ‘Cutter Master’ has the ability to bounce back with bang.

“He is still the vital part of Bangladesh team,” Minhajul said here today. “I think he has the ability to give the team a service for long years. He is still young and from what I have seen that he is working hard to hone his skill more.”

With his cutter and slower no longer a mystery for the batsmen worldwide, bowling coaches of Bangladesh urged him to alter his strategy and learn the art of brining the ball in, an art that could also help him to thrive in Test cricket.

“He has some shortcoming but he is a keen learner. He has some injury issue which also made an impact on him psychologically. But now he is free from all kind of injury and I know he is keen to make an impact.”

Mustafizur though made his International debut with a T20 against Pakistan, he shot into the limelight due to his five-wicket haul against India in his ODI debut. His deadly cutter and slower cost India the match, handing Bangladesh a comfortably victory, exactly five years ago on June 18, 2015.

If someone might think it as a fluke, Mustafizur appeared as deadlier avatar in the second match too, snapping up 6-43 to help Bangladesh win their first ever bilateral series against India. The bowling in second match still remains as his best bowling figure in the ODI cricket.

Series victory against India came just after whitewashing Pakistan in ODI series, helping Bangladesh to establish them as true cricketing giant. Bangladesh then never looked back, especially in the one-day format, as they grew strength to strength, for which Mustafizur Rahman was largely credited.

Looking back the memorable day, Mustafizur Rahman, also adorably called as ‘The Fizz’ still savoured the day of his one-day International debut against India, a match that not only established him one of the finest bowler of the country has ever seen but also kick-started the Tigers cricketing renaissance.

“I still will pick those first two matches against India as my best match. Then I will pick up the World Cup match against India and Pakistan because I also took five wickets haul in those two matches,” Mustafizur told the reporters.

In 58 ODIs, Mustafizur Rahman however claimed 109 wickets for Bangladesh. Though he is yet to show his Test credential, chief selector Minhajul believes, the left hand pacer still has the time to thrive in longer version format.

“I believe it is a matter of time, specially the way he is working hard on his fitness and skill,” he said.BSS