'He might get crores in IPL' - Bangladesh team director slams Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud is not with left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman missing out on playing Tests for his country. He is currently playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) for Delhi Capitals (DC) while Bangladesh are preparing for the Test series against Sri Lanka at home.

Perhaps, Mustafizur was given the clearance by the Bangladesh Cricket Board even when the team was playing Tests in South Africa. The pace bowler hasn’t played a Test match for Bangladesh since Feburary 2021 and has just 4 wickets to show in the formats in the last four years.

Interestingly, BCB President Nazmul Hasan had stated in mid-2021 that the centrally contracted players can pick and choose formats. However, Khaled Mahmud has now said that the leverage was only for the senior players like Shakib Al Hasan etc. 

He questioned Mustafizur Rahman for deciding not to play Tests and also pointed out that he hasn’t played for Bangladesh for many years like Tamim Iqbal, Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim among others to be allowed to choose which format to play.

“(BCB president Nazmul Hassan) Papon bhai said that the players can discuss which format they want to play but this was only applicable to the senior players, not all players. Would it be okay if (Mahmudul Hasan) Joy said that he doesn't want to play Tests? How old is Mustafiz? How long has he been playing for? 

“He is not Shakib, Tamim, Mashrafe or Mushfiq. These players have provided service for many years. I don't know why Mustafiz doesn't want to play Tests. The board should decide which format a player plays,” he said at the media briefing on Saturday (May 7).

Khaled Mahmud cleared that the senior players like Tamim and Shakib need breaks in between due to their age and their workload is needed to be managed. But with Mustafizur Rahman being only 26 years old, he should at least be available to play a few Test matches every year.

“Shakib and Tamim are 34-35 years old. They deserve breaks. But Litton Das doesn't need breaks. When he becomes Shakib or Tamim, I will say that he deserves rest. Mustafiz must play Tests. It is his peak time. I am not saying he should play all the Tests but he should definitely be available for six to eight matches per year. I used to hear that he doesn't want to play due to bio-bubbles, but now things have changed so that can't be an excuse anymore. If Taskin and Shoriful can play (Tests), he should too,” Mahmud added.