Mushfik Hasan, who is only 20 years old, was called up to the national team for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, which came as a bit of a surprise to some people. However, those who can remember his recent domestic exploits will know that the right-arm pacer has a tendency for causing trouble for batters of calibre.
During the most recent season of the National Cricket League, fast bowlers were terrifying hitters all over the country, but Mushfik’s performances seemed to have a statement of intent about them.
In the course of one of the NCL matches, he brought himself to the forefront of attention by rattling Tamim Iqbal’s stumps with a vicious ball. After that, he would destroy the Dhaka Division virtually single-handedly by taking eight wickets in a single innings while allowing just 73 runs to score.
He finished the season in the top bracket of the list of players who took the most wickets thanks to his tally of 25 scalps in six matches.
His advantage came from having pace, bounce, and a modicum of movement in his performance. Additionally, during the previous season of the Bangladesh Cricket League, he played in four matches and took 16 wickets, which placed him third on the list of players who took wickets.
The ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is very attentive of his surroundings, as evidenced by the fact that the Test captain, who will be absent from the match against Afghanistan owing to an injury to his finger, came up to training on Thursday and stayed for the entirety of the session.
After Mushfik, a young player for Mohammedan, emerged from the locker room, the first person he went up to was Shakib to shake his hand. Mushfik and Shakib had competed together in the most recent season of the Dhaka Premier League.
Later, during a press conference, the player shared the news that Shakib had praised him and told him to “carry on, Mushfik.” He also discussed his time spent playing in the DPL as well as Shakib’s effect on Mohammedan, who is now leading the team in wickets taken with 10.
“I have gained knowledge through observing him. On the field, he was giving me directions as to what actions to do. Whatever it was that I was asking him, he responded in accordance with the circumstances,” he went on to say.
He acknowledged that his accomplishments in first-class cricket had likely earned him a spot in the Test team and insisted that his “line, length, accuracy, and pace” were the primary mechanisms that contributed to his success.
In the NCL, he contributed to a team that ended up winning the championship, which made his captain, Akbar Ali, very happy. After the victory, Akbar had stated in an interview with The Daily Star that it was a significant boost for Rangpur Division because Mushfik had become the primary attacking danger.
Musfik also participated in the recently concluded four-day series against West Indies A at Sylhet, and he believed it was necessary for him to keep up his development.
“I played the matches for the A team in the same manner as I played the NCL and the BCL. If I make it into the starting eleven for the national team, I promise that my style of play won’t change.
Yesterday, Mushfik, Ebadot Hossain, and Taskin Ahmed bowled in the nets at the main Sher-e-Bangla pitch. It seemed as though they had an excellent connection with the other pacers. It was the other bowlers who were speedier that served as an inspiration to the young gun. “Bangladesh’s pacers serve as a source of motivation for me.
They are being a great assistance to me in this regard. “They put in a lot of work, and it’s inspiring to see,” he added, adding that South African pacer Kagiso Rabada is another athlete he follows.
Even if he doesn’t make the final eleven, just being a part of the process will help him add to Bangladesh’s speed strength, and the kid looks to be absorbing his cues from the rest of the team. His trainers have encouraged him to “play to your strengths.” As Mushfik watches from the sidelines, his natural reaction is to act quickly and aggressively.