Injury-marred young fast bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman has been kept out of the longer format cricket by Bangladesh Cricket Board since he made his return to international cricket as a mark of caution before he gains hundred per cent fitness to represent the country at Test cricket level – to send down longer spells.
“I CAN’T PLAY TEST MATCH EVEN FOUR DAY’S MATCH AFTER THE INJURY. HENCE, THEY GIVE ADVISE ME TO PARTICIPATE IN BCL. I WILL TRY TO PLAY AND GIVE MY LEVEL BEST TOMORROW,” MUSTAFIZUR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY BDCRICTIME.COM.
To prepare for the longer format cricket, Mustafizur is participating in the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League’s (BCL) fifth edition for Prime Bank South Zone alongside fast bowler Rubel Hossain.
Ahead of the second game against Islami Bank East Zone on Saturday (February 4), both the pacers were seen bowling in nets at the Sylhet International Stadium.
“I GOT CHANCE IN THE NATIONAL TEAM BY PLAYING BCL AND NATIONAL LEAGUE. AGAIN, IT BECOMES A MISSION TO RETURN IN THE SQUAD. IT SEEMS GOOD,” MUSTAFIZUR REMARKED.
Mustafizur is likely to get inducted into the Bangladesh Test squad to play the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka which is scheduled in March.
Bangladesh Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu has expressed they are closely monitoring the rookie Mustafizur after the long layoff following a shoulder injury.
“HE HAS BEEN OUT OF THE TEAM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. NOW WE WANT TO KEEP HIM UNDER OBSERVATION AND ALLOW HIM TO PLAY A MATCH IN BCL,” NANNU REMARKED.
In Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will play two Tests, three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.
Earlier, the 21-year-old left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the One-off Test match against India after the Board members asked for his consent when he was given thumbs up by national team physio Dean Conway.
“IF WE WILL FIND HIM FIT ENOUGH TO PLAY TEST CRICKET, WE WILL DEFINITELY INCLUDE HIM IN THE SQUAD FOR SRI LANKA,” Nannu added.
The Satkhira-born Mustafizur was replaced by the 27-year-old fast bowler Shafiul Islam in the 15-member squad for India tour.
However, Mustafizur has played limited-overs cricket in the recently concluded series in New Zealand.
Since making his international debut against Pakistan in April 2015, Mustafizur has played two Tests for The Tigers in which he has taken four wickets by conceding 58 runs at an average of 14.50. He has also played 11 ODIs and 15 T20Is in which he bagged 30 and 23 wickets respectively.
The One-off Test is scheduled in Hyderabad at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on February 9.