Bangladesh speedster Shoriful Islam has observed that his teammate, Mustafizur Rahman, appears to enjoy playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) more than representing the Bangladesh national team. This observation stems from Mustafizur’s current stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, where he has been performing under the leadership of legendary captain MS Dhoni. However, Mustafizur’s time with the defending champions is limited, as he is only permitted to play in three more games before returning to Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted Mustafizur a No Objection Certificate (NOC) until May 1, after which he will join the national team for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, commencing on May 3. Shoriful’s comments highlight the differing expectations and pressure associated with playing for Bangladesh compared to playing in the IPL.
“I watch every game and every ball Mustafizur bowls,” Shoriful said in an interview with Cricbuzz. “I talk to him the day after the matches.””I think he [Mustafizur] enjoys playing in the IPL more than playing for the Bangladesh team. It is because the pressure is less there. Perhaps, there are a lot of expectations when playing for Bangladesh and you come under immense pressure if you don’t play well,” he explained.
Despite his recent struggles with the national team, Mustafizur has been a consistent performer for the Chennai Super Kings, ranking among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. In his six matches so far, the left-arm pacer has claimed 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 9.41, including a four-wicket haul against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chepauk Stadium.
