Since his meteoric rise as a cricketing superstar, Mustafizur Rahman was never required to travel with the national team outside home. So, it was obvious that the curious international media would take a look at him during Bangladesh’s first training session in Dharamsala on Tuesday. Mustafiz left everyone disappointed as he spent the session mostly watching others and working with the physio Bayzidul Islam over his fitness. He bowled only a handful of deliveries at the end of the session that could not give any impression about his physical condition.
In his pre-match press conference skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza said Mustafiz was getting better and can take part in the game, but the training activities indicated that Mustafiz may need to wait a little longer for his overseas debut.
There are some other injury concerns for the Tigers ahead of the game as Mashrafee himself is suffering from a back spasm while Sakib al Hasan is carrying a niggle in his groin.
None of the injuries, however, could rule out them of the Netherlands game, which Mashrafee said, is a pressure game as this is the first match of an important tournament.
‘As an international side you always need to face these kinds of injury problems,’ said Mashrafee. ‘Like the other day Sakib had a problem.
He was struggling to bowl. We have to accept these things and move ahead.’
Mustafiz’s absence means Bangladesh have very few selection headaches with Nasir Hossain likely to retain his place as spinning all-rounder. Abu Hider Rony could also get another chance provided the team management does not decide to bring left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny against a side that is full of right-handers.
Mashrafee refused to tinker too much with the batting order despite an outstanding form of batsman Mahmudullah, who remained unbeaten in the last four matches mostly batting at number six or seven.
The general demand is that he should be allowed to bat higher in the order to give him a chance to face more balls but Mashrafee said he is happy with his current batting position.
‘It is very natural people will ask why we don’t send him early,’ said Mashrafee. I have seen this trend for a long period. But you see we have Sakib, Mushfiq [Rahim] batting ahead of him.
‘They are also giving the team service for a long period. I cannot lose two players to get performance of one. The plan that we had with Mahmudullah, we are successful with that. I don’t want to make too much experiment with our batting. ‘
-With New Age input
