Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahaman is the new sensation in international cricket. His bowling in IPL has created many fans in cricket fraternity as well. Rahman said that he was proud to get the chance to fly the flag for Bangladesh whether in the IPL or on the international scene. “I always wish for my country to stand tall, not only in cricket but any sport,” he said.
“It feels very good. People, my friends come up to me and say: ‘We’re going to watch you play today’ or ‘Oh, we saw you play!’ – it feels really great to hear such things,” Rahaman added.
Mustafizur shared his early day’s cricket experience. Four years ago when he had to cling to the back of his brother’s rickety moped over 40 kilometres of potholed roads just to go to practise in the nearest nets.
“My brother used to take me to Satkhira every day and then bring me back home to our village. It was very difficult. There were a few academies in Satkhira where I used to practise but otherwise I had to practise in the schoolyard all by myself.” Rahman told.
70-year-old Mohammad Abul Kashem, father of Mustafizur said that cricket fans had made pilgrimages to the village while there has been a deluge of fan mail, including from female admirers who want his mobile number.
The Left-arm pacer also had the best strike rate at the recent World Twenty20, while his five for 22 against New Zealand was the best single performance by any bowler in the competition. Rahman, whose trademark delivery is a fizzing off-cutter, first caught the eye of Indian observers last June when he took five for 50 in his one-day international debut as Bangladesh thrashed India in Dhaka.