Mushfiqur Rahim: The unsung hero of Bangladesh
BCB: Roton Gomes
|| Desk Report ||
Bangladesh’s Wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has done all the things in this World Cup, from building important partnerships to guiding the lower order in astute fashion, proving him as the heart of the team’s batting line up. The contribution was enough to make him the most influential member of the team but that was not to be.
With there was a Shakib Al Hasan, who has been going through a magical form with both batting and bowling, Mushfiqur could hardly hog the limelight. Mushfiqur has scored 327 runs in six World Cup matches in contrast of Shakib’s 476 but his runs came at the important moment, when the team needed an impetus.
If the value of the runs is counted, surely Mushfiqur will be ahead of Shakib. His 80 ball-78 runs against South Africa in Bangladesh’s World Cup opener set the tune for the whole tournament. Shakib Al Hasan was the man of the match in that match for his all-rounder performance (75 runs and one wicket) but Mushfiqur’s brave presence at other end helped Shakib play with freedom. It was actually Mushfiqur who attacked South Africa’s best bowler on that day Andile Phehluwakyo to make the Proteas disarray, helping Shakib to take the advantage.
Mushfiqur’s ordinary performance against New Zealand was key in Bangladesh’s narrow loss to the Kiwis, giving the evidence how his presence in the middle order is needed for the Tigers to win the game.
The diminutive batsman made another agenda-setting performance in the match against Afghanistan, by playing an 87 ball-83 run knock in extremely slower pitch. A defeat at the hands of Afghanistan will never be entertained in this country and hence the performance was noteworthy. Even more valuable because of the way Afghanistan’s three-pronged spin attack found the wicket to their likings.
Mushfiq is currently the eighth highest run-getter in this World Cup with at an average of 65.40. His 327 is also the highest among the Wicket-keeper batsmen of this World Cup.
But after all this tremendous performance very few people are talking about this talented batsman. The reason is Shakib al Hasan whose phenomenal all-round performance has kept Mushfiq in the shadow.
Shakib indeed has owned this World Cup by reaching milestone after milestones and creating some unique records. The ace all-rounder also scored two centuries and three half centuries in his 476 and averaged a staggering 95.20 in this World Cup so far.
With the ball in his hand, Shakib has been successful too, claiming 10 wickets with his career best 5-29 against Afghanistan. He has been named man of the match three times in this World Cup, the record for a Bangladeshi player too.
Shakib has also crafted his name into the history books in this World Cup. He became the first player with 1000 runs and 30 wickets in the World Cup history and 400+ plus runs, 10+ wickets in same edition. He also became the second player in history of World Cup with a half century and a five wicket haul. After all this, it’s not surprising that people will talk about Shakib more other than Mushfiq.
While the magnitude of his performance against South Africa and Afghanistan was undeniable, in losing-cause against Australia, Mushfiq flourished with full glory against an attack consisted with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
He was the lone fighter for Tigers with an unbeaten knock of 102 runs and became the second Bangladeshi batsman after Mohammad Ashraful to score a hundred against Australia in ODI’s. His performance was instrumental that Bangladesh ended up with 333-8, their highest ODI total.
After the Afghanistan match, Shakib also praised Mushfiq for his contribution to the team.
“It was really important to bat for a longer period and I had to work hard to pick up my half century. But Mushfiq batted really well. The target we got it wouldn’t have been possible without Mushfiq,” Shakib said, heaping shower of praise on Mushfiqur Rahim.
