Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman, born on 6 September 1995 in Satkhira, Bangladesh, is a renowned Bangladeshi international cricketer celebrated for his prowess as a left-arm fast-medium bowler. Widely hailed as one of the premier fast bowlers of his generation, Rahman rose to prominence during the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League. His remarkable skill in delivering accurate cutters and slower deliveries earned him the affectionate moniker “The Fizz,” catapulting him to international stardom.

Debuting for the Bangladesh national team in 2015, Mustafizur Rahman swiftly made his mark in the limited-overs formats. Notably, during his debut series against India in 2015, Rahman made history by claiming 11 wickets in his first two one-day international matches, aiding Bangladesh to a memorable series triumph over India. 

Since then, he has been a stalwart in various international competitions, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and Asia Cup. In his club career, Rahman was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 for $208k, where he played a pivotal role in winning his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, finishing as the fifth-highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

History:

Mustafizur Rahman hails from the modest town of Satkhira in Khulna, Bangladesh, where he spent his childhood as the youngest among six siblings of Abul Qasem Gazi and Mahmuda Khatun. Raised in a family where cricket held significant importance, thanks to his father’s avid interest in the sport, Mustafizur’s fascination with cricket deepened as he began practicing the game alongside his brother Mokhlesur Rahman every morning, despite the distance of 40 kilometers from their home. This dedication sometimes led to him missing school to pursue his passion for cricket.

Initially, Mustafizur showcased his cricketing skills as a batsman using a tennis ball before his exceptional bowling talent emerged. He draws inspiration from his idol, Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir.

In 2012, Mustafizur journeyed to Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, to participate in a fast-bowlers camp, following his initial recognition during an Under-17 tournament in Satkhira. Subsequently, he gained admission to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s fast bowling foundation. His talent earned him a spot in the Bangladesh Under-19 squad for the 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in the UAE, where he impressed with a total of eight wickets.

From 2014 onwards, Mustafizur commenced his career in both First-class and List-A cricket, representing Khulna Division and Abahani Limited, respectively. Additionally, he was selected for Bangladesh A’s tour of West Indies.

Team:

Mustafizur Rahman’s domestic cricket journey kicked off with the Bangladesh Premier League, where he showcased his talent with the Dhaka Dynamites in the 2015 season, securing 14 wickets in 10 matches. Over the years, he moved on to represent various teams in the league, including the Rajshahi Kings in the 2018–19 season and the Rangpur Rangers in the 2019–20 season. Notably, he was selected for the Comilla Victorians in the 2021-22 season, and designated as an icon player.

His foray into the Indian Premier League (IPL) began in 2016 when he was drafted by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, helping the team clinch the title with his stellar performance, which earned him the “Emerging Player of the Tournament” award. Subsequently, he joined the Mumbai Indians in 2018 and later the Rajasthan Royals in 2021, followed by the Delhi Capitals in 2022. 

His stint in English cricket saw him representing Sussex in the NatWest T20 Blast, where he showcased his bowling prowess with an impressive debut match. Despite initial selection by Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, he couldn’t participate due to a shoulder injury. Throughout his career, Mustafizur has been lauded for his mastery in bowling off-cutters, a skill he first experimented with after encouragement from his colleague Anamul Haque, making him a formidable force on the cricket field.

Mustafizur Rahman burst onto the international cricket scene in April 2015 during a Twenty20 match against Pakistan, where he impressed by dismissing Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, two seasoned Pakistani batsmen. His true potential was unveiled in June 2015 when India toured Bangladesh for a series comprising one Test and three One Day Internationals. Mustafizur, part of the ODI squad, showcased his talent by claiming a five-wicket haul in his debut match, a feat achieved by only ten bowlers in the history of ODIs. He continued his stellar performance in the subsequent matches, securing a total of 13 wickets in the series, a record at the time.

Following this remarkable debut series, Mustafizur continued to excel, playing a pivotal role in helping Bangladesh clinch a series victory against South Africa. However, his promising career was momentarily hampered by injury setbacks, including a shoulder injury during a T20 match against Zimbabwe in January 2016 and a side strain during the Asia Cup the following month. Despite these challenges, he made a strong comeback during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to claim five wickets in a T20 World Cup match.

Mustafizur’s resilience and skill were further highlighted during the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where he emerged as Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker with twenty dismissals in eight matches. His consistent performances earned him recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the rising star of the squad. Most recently, he was named in Bangladesh’s squad for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, further solidifying his position as a key player in the national team.

Achievements and Awards:

Mustafizur Rahman’s remarkable talent and consistent performances have earned him numerous accolades and records throughout his career. In 2015, he made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to be included in the ICC ODI Team of the Year, a testament to his exceptional skills on the field. The following year, he further solidified his reputation by being named the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year, becoming the first Bangladeshi player to receive this prestigious award.

His outstanding performance in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 tournament led to his inclusion as the 12th man in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament. Additionally, he was honored with the ESPNcricinfo Award for the Best T20 performance of the year for his remarkable five-wicket haul against New Zealand during the World T20.

Mustafizur’s achievements extend beyond the international arena. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he made history by becoming the first and only foreign cricketer to win the IPL’s Emerging Player of the Year award in 2016. He continued to make waves in ODIs, becoming the fastest Bangladeshi bowler to reach 50 and 100 wickets, achieving these milestones in 27 and 54 matches respectively. His prowess in T20Is was also recognized when he became the quickest Bangladeshi, fastest fast bowler, and fourth fastest bowler overall to claim 50 wickets.

In recognition of his outstanding performances, Mustafizur has been repeatedly included in the ICC ODI Team of the Year, achieving this honor in both 2018 and 2021. Additionally, he was named in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year for the year 2021, further cementing his status as one of the top cricketers in the world.

Stats:

Mustafizur Rahman has showcased his skills as both a batsman and a bowler across various formats of cricket. In Test cricket, he has played 10 matches, scoring a total of 232 runs with a highest score of 46*, averaging 13.64. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Rahman has featured in 28 matches, accumulating 360 runs with a top score of 49, averaging 16.36. His performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) includes 48 matches, where he has scored 13 runs with a highest score of 8*, averaging 13.00.

Batting Stats:

In terms of bowling, Rahman has made significant contributions across all formats. In Test cricket, he has taken 13 wickets in 10 matches, with a best bowling innings (BBI) of 4/55, averaging 63.30, and maintaining an economy rate of 3.61. In ODIs, he has claimed 19 wickets in 28 matches, with a BBI of 2/21, averaging 51.73, and an economy rate of 4.48. His IPL record shows 47 wickets in 48 matches, with a BBI of 3/16, averaging 30.72, and an economy rate of 7.93. Rahman’s versatility as an all-rounder makes him a valuable asset in various cricketing formats, contributing both with the bat and ball for his teams.                               

Bowling Stats: