BCB wants Mustafiz in WI Tests

Bangladesh Cricket Board wants Mustafizur Rahman back in the Test cricket for the West Indies tour where two of the frontline pacers, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam are missing due to injuries.

Jalal Yunus, chairman of the cricket operations committee at the BCB told the reporters on Saturday that they want Mustafiz to play Test though the left-arm pacer is not included in the national contact for red-ball, 

“ We want him to play Test matches in the West Indies. We told him (Mustafiz) clearly that we want you, and everything will be clear by tomorrow (today). The sectors will announce the team tomorrow (Sunday)”, he told the reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Mustafiz last played a Test match for Bangladesh in February 2021 against West Indies in Chattogram, since then Bangladesh have played 11 Test matches but Mustafiz did not feature in any of those.

“ Possibly the selectors will talk to him today (Saturday). When we wanted to know about all three formats, he earlier said that he will not play if the bio-bubble exists. He is still not willing to play (in Tests) but we said to him that “you must play”. We are missing two of our frontline pacers and we think Mustafiz will be very useful there. You will see once the team is announced”, said Jalal to the reporters. 

Jalal also said that Mustafiz tried to present a logic for not playing Test matches already but the BCB is not falling for that,

“He said that he has been there for a long time, almost two months. He may claim that he is not fit physically. But We told him that you come first and then we will see”, he told the reporters. 

Mustafiz is now in India to play for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. Though he is not getting a spot in the playing XI since May 1 as his performance in the IPL this season is not good enough. In eight matches played so far, Mustafiz picked only eight wickets and his economy rate is 7.62 which made him a little less affordable as a foreign player in the team.

Jalal said that Mustafiz must play Test matches now or later as the BCB is thinking about rotation policy regarding the pacers,

“ In the long run, he has to play Test cricket because we will rotate the use of the pacers. He can’t say that he is tired because where he is now he is having a long rest”, said Jalal on Saturday.