DHAKA, Feb 23, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman made it clear that he would take great pride in playing for country rather than the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).
His comment came at the moment when his compatriot Shakib Al Hasan skipped the Test series against Sri Lanka to play the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders who acquired him with a whopping amount of INR 3.20 crore during an auction in Chennai.
Mustafizur was also sold to Rajasthan Royals for his base price INR 1 crore. While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) didn’t bar Shakib from playing the IPL, they have taken the same decision for Mustafizur Rahman.
But the pacer said he didn’t want to miss the Test series against Sri Lanka if he is selected. “BCB pushed the ball to my court,” Mustafizur said here today before boarding the flight for New Zealand where Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series and as many T20 Internationals in March.
“Sri Lanka series will be held during the time when IPL will also roll into the ground. If they (BCB) keep me in the Test squad, definitely I will play the Test series,” he added.
Some of the franchisees showed interest to rope in Mustafizur for IPL in the last edition when the tournament was held in Dubai. But since Bangladesh was supposed to play the Test series against Sri Lanka, Mustafizur was denied the NOC (No Objection Certificate).
The Sri Lanka series later was postponed due to the strict quarantine issue which Bangladesh declined to accept.
“I will prefer to play for the country. Country’s priority will always be on top,” Mustafizur said. However the pacer, adorably called as Cutter Master is not always first choice for Test cricket, particularly due to his inability to bring the ball in for the batsman, a technique that is imperative for a pacer to play Test cricket.
Mustafizur made a Test comeback during the Test series against West Indies last month but his performance made it clear he still couldn’t expertize the skill for longer version format. He was subsequently dropped for the second Test and in his place, pacer Abu Jayed Rahi thrived impeccably.
Mustafizur knows it won’t be easier for him to get his place back in the Test squad. “If I am not selected in the Test squad, and if BCB allows me, I will play in IPL,” Mustafizur informed.