Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Promising Bangladesh pacer Mushfik Hasan is the latest prospect to have come through the ranks having been selected in the 15-member squad to face Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium starting on June 14.
Mushfik, 20, has impressed in the longer version formats of Bangladesh’s domestic cricket and it paid dividends for the pacer from Lalmonirhat as it earned him a place in the Bangladesh A team that faced the West Indies A side at home recently.
Strict lines, lengths, and accuracy have given his inclusion in the Test side credibility and Mushfik himself has said that those are the aspects he focuses on at first and then tries to ramp up his pace.
With the Bangladesh pace unite becoming quite the threat, Mushfik acknowledged the impact that revelation has had on young pacers like him. He revealed that he draws inspiration from the Tigers pacers but has South Africa’s speedster Kagiso Rabada as his role model.
“Now I get inspiration from Bangladesh’s pacers. I follow Rabada (Kagiso),” he told the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Having made his first-class debut in 2022, Mushfik has scalped 49 wickets in 13 matches averaging 21.30, including three five-wicket hauls. He believes that his performances in the longer version tournaments have played a pivotal part in his national team call-up. Adding to this, he revealed that it was his strictness in keeping things simple with the ball in hand that has paid the dividends.
“Alhamdulillah for getting the call-up. I think I’ve done very well in the first-class circuit which is why I got the call.
“Last year, I was in HP where I worked hard on my fitness and my bowling. I’ve taken a lot of advice. Talha Jubair sir was there along with Champaka (Ramanayake). I had discussions with everyone,” he added.
“I played in the same way for the A team as I did in the first-class, NCL, and the BCL. If I get an opportunity in the national team, I will play in the same manner.
