A boy of 19 from a remote village of Sathkhira, Bangladesh has already turned a sensation in world cricket. The boy wonder, Mustafizur Rahman is a talk of cricket world. Some are talking about Wasim Akram, others telling about Mohammad Amir, few about mentioned Chaminda Vaas. But none including three mentioned could achieved what this teenager has already achieved in two of his first ODI. The natural skills that he possess has already shacked the very strong Indian batting line up.
Rohit, Virat, Raina, Shikhar, Dhoni all were seen groping in the dark. Single handed he destroyed the Indian batting earning back to back man of the match and his team already won two matches comfortably. The 8th ranked Bangladesh overwhelmed the second ranked India and the architect is the teenager. Sky will be his limit if this new hero of Bangladesh can be nursed well and mentored with great care.
Bangladesh does not possess similar domestic format as in Australia, England or even in India or Sri Lanka. Neither has it enabling infrastructure for hunting talents and growing them in a systematic manner. Emergence of such a natural talent, appearing against a very strong team and single handed destroying the team now features discussion in the cricket world. He is not express first but he possesses the natural left handers ability of taking the ball away from length.
His angular delivery at varying pace bamboozled technically sound Indian batsmen. His off cutters caused the demise of some leading Indian batsmen who have batted so well against the leading bowlers of the world on every surface. He got five wickets in the first and 6 in the second ODI. Taking 11 wickets in the first two ODI he has already set a new world record of highest wicket in the first two ODIs. If he takes another 5 wickets tomorrow he will join the great Waqar Yunus as the only bowler as the bowler taking three 5 wickets haul in ODI. But for Mustafiz it will be unique as even Waqar did not achieve this in his first three ODIs.
Bangladesh bowling coach Heath Streak who himself was an excellent pace bowler has already assessed the wonder boy. He thinks Mustafiz needs only just fine tuning, not over dose coaching. He needs carefully nursing and patient mentoring. The variations he already demonstrated, the nerveless application he has shown are hall marks of a true great.
The shy boy cannot even talk loudly. His ball talks for him. His subtle change of pace keeps batsmen guessing. His mystery off cutters acts as silent killers. Indian batsmen failed to decode him. Indian captain willingly or unwillingly shouldered him in the first match as they collided. The boy went out for a while.
When he returned he knocked down Indian team. Captain Cool had to acknowledge his talent. “Mustafiz is already an Icon. Indian batsmen did not present him wickets. He earned it. We failed to read him.” Dhoni has played all top bowlers of the world including Dayle Steyn, Morne Morkel, Mitchell Johnson, and Wahab Riaz. What Dhoni said about Mustafiz is a great compliment.
We very often logically criticize the BCB selectors. But they must be credited for blooding Mustafiz in the T20 against Pakistan. The brave Bangladesh Captain Mashrafee must be acclaimed for pioneering his inclusion in the ODI and handing over the new ball to him against two of the destructive modern day openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. It was a calculated gamble and it instantly paid off.
Nature has blessed him with exceptional skills and does not need to learn too much. As he matures he will grow some muscles. Some fine tuning under close monitoring of a person like Heath Steak facilitate his graduation to a step further.
Having a passionate leader like exemplary Mashrafee as his leader only sky can be his limit. We are assured this boy will win many matches for Bangladesh as he goes along. His father wanted him to be a doctor or an engineer. But no doctor or engineer has helped Bangladesh achieve instant glory that this boy has already presented.
Bangladesh Cricketers are fondly named Bengal Tigers. The place from where this tiger cab emerged is adjacent to Sundarbans. He has already appeared with the anger and ferocity of Royal Bengal Tigers and hunted the preys like a wounded tiger. Beware the batsmen all over the cricket world. The boyish looking kid will love to continue hunting for sure.
BDST: 1831 HRS, JUN 23, 2015
HB/SMS
