Home ›› 14 Aug 2021 ›› Sport
Mushfiqur Rahim or Nurul Hasan, who will be behind the wickets for the Tigers in the upcoming New Zealand series, and of course the T20 World Cup? This is the burning question these days in every cricket lover’s mind.
Mushfiq has been a keen servant for Bangladesh Cricket. Being one of the senior-most cricketers in the group with a plethora of experience, he is rightfully entitled to claim the gloves, which he has done in 82 matches earning 61 dismissals.
Meanwhile, Nurul Hasan, who only got the chance to play for the national T20 team, after waiting for four years, in absence of Mushfiq and Liton Kumar Das due to a bio-security protocol agreed between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Cricket Australia.
Nurul grabbed the chance and did some wonderful job behind the stumps. Besides, making four dismissals, he displayed his athletic abilities on the field and cheered up team members by chanting constantly.
Former national team captain and one of the longest-serving wicket-keepers for Bangladesh, Khaled Mashud thinks that it is solely the captain’s call.
“Just like the captain gives the new ball to a bowler, it is his decision to make who will keep the wickets. Both are good. Mushfiq is definitely the first choice wicket-keeper of the team, he had been doing the job for a long time. Sohan (Nurul Hasan) has also shown good performance,” he told The Business Post.
Mashud said the captain has to solve the equation, combine the best possible options and as he is not designated to make the decision now.
“The captain has to solve the equation of picking XI players to the best of their combination. I did it when it was my time. Who could do better as a fielder if not keeping, that should also be kept in mind. Now it is solely Mahmudullah’s call. Mushfiq’s batting is a plus point for the team, Sohan is a good wicket-keeper. Ultimately the captain and the team management will decide who will keep the wickets,” he added.
Former national team captain and wicket-keeper, Shafiqul Haque thinks the preparations must be taken considering the T20 world cup.
“First the team management should have a plan regarding this. If they are planning to make Sohan the wicket-keeper for the World T20, then Sohan should keep in the series against New Zealand. In that case, Mushfiq can play only as a batsman, batting at number four”, he told The Business Post.
Liton is also another wicket-keeping option for Bangladesh, who has been keeping the wickets in Test matches regularly and also carried out the job in five T20 matches so far.
“Sohan is well built and athletic. He was good in the Australia series. Even if the team management thinks of giving the gloves to Mushfiq, the duty could be split against New Zealand. For three matches, Mushfiq may keep wickets and Sohan for the remaining two. Mushfiq recently got injured, so if Sohan is included in the 15-men team, he can replace him readily when the time comes”, he added.
With only one place for wicket-keeper in the team, three potential competitors are vying for the post with different skill-set and team-combination.
If Liton returns as the opener replacing struggling Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiq comes back to the team and take the role of number four batsman, Nurul Hasan could be picked as the wicket-keeper. But that might exclude someone like Shamim Hossain or Shak Mahedi Hasan from the playing XI as he has to perform the role of the finisher as well.
