DHAKA, Dec 9, 2019 (BSS)- Rajshahi Rangers head coach Mark O’Donnell hopes their fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman would shrug off his poor form to come all guns blazing in the upcoming Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL).
Rangpur who drafted Mustafizur in their team as a ‘A category’ player will take on Cumilla Warriors in their opening match on Wednesday, when the tournament proper of the BBPL would roll on to the ground.
Mustafizur whose recent form created a massive headache for the team management following his poor performance in the three-match T20 series against India was seen to engage himself in intense practice session.
He particularly focused on to hone his Yorker, something which badly needed to be sharpened to thrive in shortest format of the cricket.
Not only that his wicket-taking ability with his trademark cutter, slower or Yorker was diminished, but also he leaked runs in abundance to make him an ordinary bowler in recent time.
Mark O’Donnell said with the experience Mustafizur gained in the past, he still could be handy and that he is working hard to regain his rhythm was the testament of his desire to hit back to the form.
“The two hours we bowled today, we knew the way he [Mustafizur] ball was going, was very impressive,” O’Donnell said here today. “Again it depends how well you start the tournament. But it is good, he is an experienced T20 cricketer. And he knows exactly what he is trying to do with the ball.”
New Zealand-born O’Donnell who replaced Grant Flowers as the coach of Rangpur Rangers, supervised the team’s practice for the first time on Monday.
He said that he is yet to get the full team for the practice as the overseas players didn’t come as of now.
“We have not got everybody yet, the overseas are still coming. But it’s just very marvelous time in Bangladesh. We had a good training session. It’s pretty tight schedule.”
He however doesn’t think the lack of enough practice would make any adverse impact since the players usually get very little time to practice when they play domestic T20 cricket.
“The players are backing themselves and ready to take every opportunity. In every practice session they make sure that they are ready to towards game situation. In coaching staffs, we were having a chat tonight, it would be clear what we are trying to do with our balance and set up of the team.”
According to him, despite the lack of practice session, Rangpur got a well balance to challenge the other teams.
“I think Rangpur got well balance. There are huge variety in the team which could make us a force in the tournament.”
However he refused to reveal the goal he sets for the team.
“As I said, it’s my first time in Bangladesh and it’s good two hours of practice, we have not got the entire squad in here. But the intensity and what the guys did, how they went about the work, its very impressive.”