Mustafizur Rahman Will Not Play One-Off Test Against Zimbabwe: Russell Domingo

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo on Friday revealed that Mustafizur Rahman will not feature in their One-off Test against Zimbabwe that begins from Saturday. While the speedster was named in the squad, Russell has effectively ruled him out of contention for a spot in the playing XI.

When quizzed about the reason for Rahman’s exclusion on the eve of the game, the Bangladeshi chief coach revealed that the bowler is not yet ready to play Test cricket.

However, Russell went on to add that the 24-year-old will remain with the squad, as he works his way back into the playing XI.

Mustafizur Rahman will not play the One-off test vs Zimbabwe: Russell Domingo

Addressing the media on the eve of Bangladesh’s fixture with Zimbabwe, the 45-year-old coach said Rahman will have to ‘improve’ to force his way into the team.

“Mustafiz is not playing this Test match. The next five days he is going to be bowling every day, trying to make sure he gets his shape that is required because that could help him in Test cricket and white ball cricket,” said Russell, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

“At the moment I can’t see him playing Test match cricket and I have told him that. Until he improves technically and gets the ball to swing and get it to come back in to the right hander,” he also added in the pre-match press conference.

When questioned by the media, that why was Rahman called up into the squad in the first place, if he wasn’t going to play, the South African coach revealed that even though the pacer was included in the squad, he was never going to play.

“He (Mustafiz) was put back into the squad not to play in my opinion. But very much to train, to get the shape back into the right-hander, to build a connection with Ottis (Gibson), to develop a bit of trust, a bit of relationship. Mustafiz is going to stay with the team,” Russell addressed the query before signing off.

Zimbabwe are currently on a tour of Bangladesh where they will play one Test, three ODI and two T20I matches.