DHAKA: Mustafizur Rahman is affectionately called “Fizz “ by his admirers. The just crossed teenage from remote village of Bangladesh has already become a household name of world Cricket. After his meteoric rise in international cricket for Bangladesh in all forms of cricket creating few world records he appeared in IPL for the first time. Sunrisers Hyderabad drafted him in their team for IPL 2016.
He is now a perfect example of Veni, Vidi, Vici. The wonder boy of Bangladesh Cricket with his mystery bowling in IPL is rocking the cricket world. He has perhaps already bowled the best ball in the history of IPL when he floored Caribbean T20 blaster Andrew Russel with an exceptional fast Yorker. This ball we are sure would have made Wasim Akram proud in his prime. He also flummoxed AB de Villiers, confused Kohli, Raina, McCullam and Jadeja with his concealed cutters.
So far he has picked up five wickets in 16 overs from four IPL matches. Few others even B. Kumar his own team mate got more. Still, all are talking about Mustafiz. All commentators are highly impressed. His captain, his coach and his team mates already regard him an exceptional talent. Media is carrying his interview. Experts are predicting of massive rat race in getting him in the next season.
His captain already termed him the best option for bowling in the death overs. Few criticized his strategy of holding him back till later overs. But Mustafiz has proved how difficult he is to get away. How quickly he adjusts to conditions of the match! How he adjusts with the wickets! If there is grass cover where his cutters do not grip he bowls at lightening pace. Yet his wrist actions suggest off-cutter which deceives the best batsmen in the business.
Captain Warner has started learning Bangla from Google to communicate with his “Ace of Spades”. His team Sunrisers has appointed a Bangla speaking companion for him. “Fizz” is making Bangladesh and Bangla language proud.
Mustafiz is a rare breed and exceptional bowler. The best batsmen in the business like Kohli, AB de Villiers, McCullam, Finch, Raina, Russell and Jadeja have failed to decode his mystery. He bowls with deceptive pace, his slower cutters bowled with same wrist action is almost impossible to play. He is a freak genius.
Few thought and still believe that risking him in a controversial tournament like IPL was a bit risky, few believe that a simple young person like him can be allured by bookies. His national captain Charismatic Mashrafe has given him some tips which, according to Shakib Al Hasan, “Fizz” is following meticulously so far.
Whether or not a person conducts in challenging circumstances entirely depends on individual. He has already proved what a tough cookie he is. He is a nerveless, unassuming fellow. It will not be easy to misguide him.
In IPL he is rubbing shoulders with the best of the best in the business. Tom Moody is his coach. VVS Laxman is the mentor; Ashish Nehra, Trent Boult and B Kumar are his bowling mates. He is playing on different surfaces, in different conditions against some top players of contemporary cricket. Now could read him properly yet. He bowled very miserly. Most of the runs of his bowling came through poor fielding. The exposure has so far turned gold for the youngster.
He will travel to England for playing county cricket. Sussex has drafted him. English Cricket will be his ultimate test. It will mature him further. Only thing that he and his management as well as BCB must be careful, he does not burn out soon with too much cricket. Sky is the limit for the “Fizz”, the emerging enigma of World Cricket.
BDST: 1500 HRS, APR 22, 2016
SR
