Mushfiqur Rahim has addressed the Bangladesh team management that he will no longer keep wicket in T20Is, according to head coach Russell Domingo. Mushfiqur didn’t act play his role as a wicketkeeper in the third T20I against New Zealand, although it was declared before the series that he would split wicketkeeping duties with Nurul Hasan in the first four games.
Although Mushfiqur hasn’t spoken about the matter since Domingo’s announcement two days before the first match, his withdrawal from wicketkeeping comes as a huge shock, although it is likely he had made up his mind a week ago when Domingo made the announcement. Mushfiqur reportedly didn’t take part in wicketkeeping drills in training on any of the training sessions, even on Saturday, the day before the third T20I in which he was scheduled to keep wickets.
Head Coach Russell Domingo’s Statement
Domingo said that they have to quickly move on to allow Nurul, who has been keeping wicket in Bangladesh’s recent cluster of T20Is since mid-July, to be the go-to wicketkeeper going into the T20 World Cup next month.
“There has been a change (in plans),” Domingo said. “Initially after speaking to Mushy, he was going to keep after the second game. But he told me he probably doesn’t want to keep wicket in T20s anymore, so we have to move on. I don’t think Mushfiqur’s desire to keep in this format is great anymore. We have to focus on [Nurul Hasan] Sohan, and let him do those duties going into the competition.
It is the first time ever that Mushfiqur has told the team management that he wants to give up wicketkeeping. Normally, he has insisted that he wants to play as a wicketkeeper-batter, particularly in the last five years when his wicketkeeping has come under criticism. The most recent occasion was the second ODI against New Zealand in March this year when he dropped Tom Latham at an important stage of the game.
There were renewed problems among the BCB’s top brass, but ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka in May, captain Tamim Iqbal fully backed Mushfiqur, the wicketkeeper.
Tamim Iqbal had supported Mushfiqur’s wicketkeeping
“I am very happy with his wicketkeeping. [Half] chances and dropped catches are part of the game. I know how hard he works, so I have no complaints. The team management, coach, and I definitely want him to keep wicket in the three ODIs.
“You are talking about some dropped catches but he has done a wonderful job as a wicketkeeper over the last 13-14 years. I have complete trust in him and give him my full support. I think he should continue to keep wicket for Bangladesh,” said Tamim.
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