2024-04-16 10:28:03
Mostafizur Rahman is the only cricketer representing Bangladesh in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). Even though he was scratched in the last match, this left-handed pacer is playing with power in the jersey of Chennai Super Kings. Even though he has played five matches so far, taking wickets in each one, Mustafiz will have to catch a flight to the country before the end of the tournament.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has given him a no-objection letter till April 30. He will then return home for the Zimbabwe series. Bangladesh will play a five-match T20I series from May 3 at home. However, BCB director Akram Khan wants to see Mostafiz in the IPL, not in the series against Zimbabwe. According to him, Mustafiz will learn a lot in the IPL which he will not be able to in the series against Zimbabwe.
“Rather than playing with Zimbabwe, I think he can learn a lot by playing there. You have a dressing room, will play with big cricketers, the standard there is good, playing on different wickets, playing with different types of cricketers, I think he should get this opportunity’- Akram told reporters in Mirpur on Monday.
Mustafiz has taken 10 wickets in five matches so far. He scored a joint maximum of 55 runs against Mumbai Indians yesterday. Got 1 wicket, with Suryakumar Yadav taking a wonderful catch on the boundary line to turn the match. Mostafiz is joint second in the list of wicket takers so far. Jasprit Bumrah has taken 10 wickets after playing 1 match more than him. Yuzvendra Chahal is on top with 11 wickets.
Akram said about Mustafiz’s form in IPL, ‘We were a little worried about Mustafiz’s performance. He has been struggling for the past one year. But now in IPL, his performance is getting better. Not that he is getting better at all, because he does not play Test cricket, and if he continues to play well in IPL, then Bangladesh will benefit more in the World Cup.’
“If you can use the type of player Mostafiz is, you will benefit 100%. That’s what your Dhoni team is doing. You see the way he bowled against Kolkata, the way he planned, to be honest the more matches he plays for Chennai, he will benefit personally and Bangladesh will also benefit.’
According to the NOC, Mustafiz can play three more matches. Chennai will take on Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 and 23 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 28. Apart from the first, the remaining two matches will be played at Chennai’s home ground. Will Mustafiz play the last match of the IPL season on April 28 or will it increase, time will tell.