Mustafizur Rahman Needs To Prove His Fitness Ahead Of India Tour, Says Chief Selector

Bangladesh will tour India in November to play three Twenty20 Internationals followed two Tests as a part of the ICC World Test Championship. Star fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s participation in the series hangs by the wire as he needs to clear fitness test to make it into the squad.

Mustafizur missed the first phase of Bangladesh’s first-class tournament owing to an ankle injury. With Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) earlier stating that national cricketers will have to take part in at least two editions of NCL as part of their preparation for the upcoming tour of India, Mustafizur Rahman will have to play in those game to prove his fitness.

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The left-arm fast bowler is likely to feature in the second phase of NCL, scheduled to begin on October 17. He will play for Khulna Division against Rajshahi Division in a bid to clear the fitness test. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin revealed that Mustafizur was slated to play from the beginning but a minor ankle injury ruled him out.

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“He (Mustafizur) will have to prove his fitness in the NCL game to be considered for the upcoming Test series against India,” Abedin told reporters. “The physio had given us some guidelines. He was supposed to play from the very first match. However, because he has some minor problem with his ankle, he was not able to take the full load and therefore, was unable to play the first match (of the NCL)” he added.

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Minhajul Abedin also said that they will closely monitor Mustafizur Rahman injury in the upcoming games. As per the current scenario, he cannot bowl more than 15 overs a day but they will assess the progress and plan accordingly. Abedin also added Mustafizur’s inclusion for the India series will completely be a management decision.

“This is completely the decision of team management,” he said. “We don’t work in the field. There is fitness trainer, bowling coach, who will judge whether he can bowl in back-to-back matches and how many overs he can bowl,” he concluded.

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