Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has on Monday (February 3) dismissed the speculations about his unavailability for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe by saying he will be match fit and available for the selection for the upcoming home series.
There were doubts about Rahim’s participation in the Zimbabwe series after chief selector Minhajul Abedin stated that Bangladesh will retain the same squad they announced for the first Test against Pakistan for both the Zimbabwe Test and the second Test against Pakistan.
And even head coach Russell Domingo also stressed on the need for continuity in terms of selection and they are likely to stick with the same squad for the upcoming three Tests.
Read Also: Bangladesh announce their squad for Rawalpindi Test
Well, Rahim had pulled out of the Pakistan tour due to security reasons, is currently recovering from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the first round of the Bangladesh Cricket League, but he is confident of playing in the second round of the BCL as well as in the Zimbabwe series.
Mushfiqur told Cricbuzz, “I have a fitness test tomorrow or the day after and if everything is okay, I will play in the second round of BCL. There is no reason why I won't play against Zimbabwe. I am preparing myself accordingly. I will be fit and will be available for selection.”
He further added, “Whether I will be selected or not is not in my hands but I will try to play against Zimbabwe and not only the Test but we have a full-fledged series against Zimbabwe and I will try to be available for all the formats. I will try to do well if I get selected.”
Meanwhile, it is being said that the Bangladesh Cricket Board was unhappy with Rahim pulling out of the Pakistan tour and he isn't an automatic choice in the team anymore and even the BCB president Nazmul Hassan had publicly criticized him for opting out of the tour.
However, the 32-year-old isn't too worried about it and insisted that he'll prove his value to the team with his performance that’s the only thing he can do to be get selected in the team.
He further explained, “I am not a big cricketer like Tamim and Shakib and I always think of myself as a small player. Like I always say, I only plan about how to get a chance to play in the next series. So it was not embarrassing for me; rather it looked normal as they are saying what they are thinking. As far as recovery is concerned, there is a match of BCL and I will try to perform so that I make the selectors and members of the team management happy. If they think that I can add value to the team than they will pick me in the upcoming series.”
Rahim signed off by saying, “All I can do is try to be hundred percent fit and make sure that my performance is okay. If I am not available despite it [fitness and performance] then I don't have anything to say and if I am not selected for this series [against Zimbabwe] then I will try to perform so that I can be available for the next series. Till date, no one said anything to me in this regard and it does not matter if they said anything elsewhere because at the end of the day I will only act according to the way they want and if they take such decision [of dropping me] then I will ask why and take steps so that I can make a comeback in the following series.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
