Bangladesh pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman economy rate is a concerning area for Tigers as they head for the last game of the three-match series against Sri Lanka.

Wickets are coming in every match. Mustafiz has taken wickets in 13 matches from 16 ODI’s that he played. He has clinched two, three, four even five wickets in a match. But the concerning thing is he is also leaking too many runs. This never happened in Mustafiz’s career before.

This year Mustafiz took 34 wickets in 16 ODI matches. For the wickets his average of 28.14 is looking great. But Mustafiz’s economy of 6.77 is a bit of a concern for the Bangladesh’s team management. Specially when his economy was just 4.20 in 18 ODI’s last year.  

Mustafiz has taken two wickets in the ongoing Sri Lanka series. But in doing so, he gave 75 runs in the first 10 overs and in the second ODI’s he gave 50 runs. In the 16 ODI’s this year his economy is above seven in seven matches, below six is in five matches. In the third ODI against New Zealand in Dunedin Mustafiz gave 93 runs in 10 overs. In the first of Tri-series in Dublin he gave 84 runs in 10 overs, in the final 50 runs in five overs. The same form continued in the World Cup too. Against England, he gave 75 runs in nine overs, 69 runs in overs against Australia and 75 runs against Pakistan in 10 overs. It was difficult for the bowlers in the English condition its true.  But in the last two matches against Sri Lanka the run leaking Mustafiz didn’t change too.

If we compare this with the last we have something to be concerned about. In 2018, Mustafiz took 29 wickets in 18 ODI’s. Wicket is bit less but the economy is whooping 4.20. He had above six economy in only three matches. Among this, you should step aside the 7.63 economy in the tri-nation series against Sri Lanka. Because the team got all out at 82 and Mustafiz only bowled 1.5 overs. Actually, he had above six economy in two matches against West Indies in the series’s last match at America and against the same opposition in Dhaka in the second ODI. In these two matches, he gave 63 runs in 10 overs at an economy of 6.3  

In 2018, Mustafiz gave below four runs per over in nine matches. Its is an unbelievable stat compared to modern cricket. And this year, he has played 16 ODI’s but he didn’t bowl at an economy below four in a single match. The standard Mustafiz has set for himself its not less surprising too.

Bangladesh coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon has accepted the fact. He has talked with the left arm pacer regarding this. “ At the start of the series, I have told Mustafiz that ‘ Remember when you were more effective? You used to bowl slower higher up the pitch that’s why success came. Now you are bowling at back of the length. That’s why batsmen are getting time to adjust and hitting the ball.’ Mustafiz has listened to me and working on it,” This length is affecting Mutafiz’s economy coach believes, “ there was a time when he was getting less wickets but nobody was able to score against him. No team took that chance. They are also not doing it now but as he is bowling at back of the length, they are able to score against him,”  

Khaled Mahmud believes only change in the length wont solve this issue. He thinks Mustafiz also needs to add some variation too. “ you must add more variation. There is no other alternatives. Specially he has to learn to get the ball back in to the batsman. If there is no variation its difficult to get past world cup batsmen”