Hasina wishes Mustafizur on IPL success but worries about too much exposure

Mustafizur Rahman’s captivating performance in the IPL has done all proud but the young bowler should also be careful about too much exposure, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 31 May 2016, 02:36 PM
Updated : 31 May 2016, 02:36 PM

The pacer, who returned home on Monday night after a stellar campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Indian Premier League, became a topic of discussion at the meeting of the Executive Committee on National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday.

Planning Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, who later briefed the press, said: “(Hasina) has wished Mustafiz. She said ‘we are proud of him. But he has to be careful’.”

“The prime minister said everyone will get to know Mustafiz’s secrets if he is overexposed. Then we will not get the service we are getting from him,” he said.

The 20-year-old from Satkhira is lovingly called ‘the Fizz’ for his lively left-arm pace, deceptive slower balls, hostile yorkers and cutters just a year into his inception in international cricket.

Playing for Sunrisers, who took the IPL crown, he took 17 wickets from 16 matches at an awe-inspiring economy rate of 6.90 - the lowest among bowlers who had bowled at least 20 overs.

He has bagged 26 wickets at an economy rate of 4.26 in the nine One Day Internationals. For the 13 T20 matches, his record is 22 wickets at an economy rate of 5.98.

The planning minister has asked Mustafizur to look after himself, saying: “A player like Kapil Dev did not get injuries in his long career. But players like Joel Garner or Michael Holding could not go on playing because of their injuries.”

“Our Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza) also can’t extend his career because of injuries.” 

A shoulder injury along with a side strain had kept Mustafizur out of several matches this year, and because of them he stayed back from joining Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The pacer, while getting a hero’s welcome at Dhaka airport after his return, said his playing in the English county cricket for Sussex now depends on Bangladesh Cricket Board physician’s report after the injury he had sustained in the IPL.

“I felt a little pain in my leg before the final match. I’ll go and visit the physio and speak to the cricket board (Tuesday). Things will be known then,” he said.