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Mustafiz

‘Mustafiz doesn’t want to play Test now’

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not included Mustafizur Rahman in the Tests despite having a central contract for ODIs and T20s. Akram Khan, the board’s head of cricket management, said the left-arm pacer was not currently interested in playing in white-ball cricket. Although he had hoped to play in all three editions a few months ago, he is currently withdrawing from the Tests due to the long-standing hassle of being in the biological safety bubble.

Since the return of cricket to the field after a coronavirus break last year, players around the world have had to stay in the biosecurity zone. There they have to follow strict rules including regular corona tests. Stress is not uncommon in such situations. Many cricketers have expressed discomfort at various times, including playing in a continuous game and being in the bio-safety zone.

Bangladesh team is also at a stretch to play cricket. They have faced the West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia in a series of home and away matches this year. The T20 World Cup is in October-November.

Besides, the cutter master Mustafizur has also participated in IPL for Rajasthan Royals. The unfinished part of India’s franchise-based T20 event, which was postponed due to Corona last May, will be rolled out this month.

On Thursday, Akram said the BCB had taken a positive view of the decision of Mustafiz to cope with the turmoil in the biological protection zone.

“Mustafiz does not want to play Tests right now,” Akram said.

“He is not interested in playing Tests now. That being said, as long as there is bio-bubble or quarantine, it is difficult for him to concentrate on the test. So he doesn’t want to play Test right now. We also took it very positively. Since he is a very effective and very important player for us in T20 and ODI, we have done it through discussion.”

News Room, September 02, 2021