Coach Davis frustrated as Sussex keep waiting for Mustafizur's arrival

Sussex coach Mark Davis says he is frustrated over his long wait for pacer Mustafizur Rahman's arrival.

Sports Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 21 June 2016, 11:42 AM
Updated : 21 June 2016, 11:43 AM

The Bangladesh youngster is undergoing rehabilitation to regain match fitness, putting his county stint in doubt.

The team brought in David Wiese as Mustafizur’s replacement, and though the South African all-rounder was signed for two matches, he had to play four before leaving England to join the Caribbean Premier League in the West Indies.

Sussex will have to do without of all-rounder Chris Jordan, too, against Gloucestershire on Sunday as he will be away playing for England in an ODI against Sri Lanka.

"We have a couple of people but it is very late in the day; so it is very hard to get replacements," Davis told The Argus.

"The top players in the world have been signed or are playing CPL or their countries aren’t allowing them to play."

"That’s the frustration because we have chosen Mustafizur as probably the No.1 bowler in the world in that format."

On Jun 9, Bangladesh Cricket Board physio Bayezidul Islam said it would take Mustafizur at least two weeks to be fully fit but, last week, trainer Mario Villavarayan said the pacer would need another month of rest.

To give the 20-year-old seamer time to recover after the IPL, Sussex gave Mustafizur time off and were hoping to have him by Jun 10.

Despite the delay stretching more than a week after that, the Sussex coach was still hopeful about getting Mustafizur.

"I spoke to the Bangladesh head coach and he said he would be assessed after two weeks, which is now," Davis said.