Mustafiz deserves fair treatment
The Bangladesh cricket team’s selectors, and the coach from Sri Lanka have not considered fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the tour of India, arguing if the cricketer himself does not want to play, what can we do? He may be, however, recruited for the tour of Sri Lanka next month.
In fact we do not know the actual reason of Mustafiz’s omission from the team, but we fear a sad end of his cricket career, like Roy Gilchrist of the West Indies,
Gi1christ was better than any other pace bowler of his time across the globe, but his cricket career ended within two years from beginning (May 1957-February 1959). He captured 57 wickets on an average of 26.68 runs per over in 11 Test matches, and 167 wickets on an average of 26 runs per over in 42 first class matches.
Team captain Gerry Alexander being unhappy with Gilchrist for his overstepping bodyline ball cut him in the middle of the tour of India, which marked the end of his career. The dejected West Indian died in his 67 years on July 18 in 2001.
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman played two Test matches so far, wrapped up four wickets on an average of 14 runs only, played nine one-day internationals and took 20 wickets on an average of 12.34 runs, and 13 matches to capture 22 wickets.
Mustaflz played his both Test matches in July 2015 against South Africa.
So, what is the reason of sidelining him when he does not send bodyline ball to the batsmen?
We hope, Mustafiz should not be victim of anybody’s likings or disliking. He deserves a fair treatment like the game of Cricket.
Peter Rozario
Pabna.