Mushfiq uninterested in T20 glovework

Experienced cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim unlikely to hold the job of wicketkeeper in Bangladesh’s Twenty20 side, revealed coach Russell Domingo as the country is planning to revamp the squad.

Mushfiqur did the glovework in 82 of his 89 Twenty20 internationals to emerge as one of the successful wicketkeepers in the world in this format.

He managed to take 32 catches as wicketkeeper and did 29 stumpings.

Only India’s MS Dhoni played more matches than him as wicketkeeper-batsman in Twenty20 internationals.

However, his performance behind the stumps was called into questions in recent months prompting Bangladesh to seek an alternative.

Mushfiq’s absence in the recent series against Zimbabwe and Australia due to a family emergency and quarantine rules allowed Bangladesh to try Nurul Hasan Sohan in a wicketkeeping position.

Before the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand, coach Domingo had told the media Nurul would hold the job in the first two matches and Mushfiqur in the third and fourth match.

Whoever does well, he will be given the job in the fifth match, Domingo told a pre-series press conference.

Domingo’s public announcement regarding the wicketkeeping position created an uproar in social media, with former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza leading the criticism.

“After serving Bangladesh for 16 years, Mushfiq does not need to be told that he must perform. He knows it very well. Now if it is announced publicly this way, it is a disrespect for him,” Mortaza wrote in a Facebook post.

Bangladesh retained Nurul as wicketkeeper in the third match against New Zealand on Sunday, apparently budging from its previous position.

Domingo said they had to bring the change in the plan due to Mushfiqur’s desire.

“There has been a change after speaking to Mushi. He was going to keep after the second game. Mushfiq told me that he probably doesn’t want to keep in T20 cricket anymore,” Domingo told reporters after a 52-run defeat against New Zealand.

We got to move on. I don’t think Mushfiq’s desire to keep is great in this format anymore. So, we got to focus on Sohan (Nurul) and possibly let him do the duties going into the competition,” he added.