Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL club vs country debate ahead of T20 World Cup

T20 cricket rarely brings good news in Bangladesh. So, when a Bangladesh bowler, considered to be past his prime, lights up the biggest T20 league in the world with his variations, it’s great news, especially with the T20 World Cup around the corner.

Mustafizur hasn’t done anything different with the ball this IPL – he has always had the T20 skills. It’s his form that has improved over the past few weeks.

“How is it good for Mustafiz to play in the IPL? He has nothing to learn from the IPL. In fact, the IPL players can learn from Mustafiz. It won’t benefit Bangladesh.”

Jalal Yunus, BCB’s cricket operations chair

Mustafizur’s situation has sparked an interesting debate in Bangladesh. One school of thought is that he is better off playing in the IPL, while there are others who feel Mustafizur should play for Bangladesh to prepare for the T20 World Cup.

“Mustafiz is the type of bowler who will give the team benefit, if he is utilised properly,” Akram told reporters at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. “Dhoni’s team is certainly doing that at the moment. The way Mustafizur bowled according to a plan against Kolkata, I think he is benefitting greatly playing for Chennai. It obviously means that Bangladesh, too, will benefit from him. I think he will learn more from playing in the IPL than playing against Zimbabwe. He is spending time with big players in the [CSK] dressing room. He is playing with different types of players.

“I think Mustafiz should be given this opportunity [to play more for CSK]. Not too long ago we were worried about his performance. He has struggled in the last 12 months. His performance is improving in the IPL. I won’t say he has totally transformed as a bowler since he is not playing longer version cricket, but from what we saw in the IPL, he has certainly improved a little. If he continues playing in the IPL, it will only help Bangladesh in the World Cup.”

Yunus, though, disagreed with Akram, saying BCB wants to manage Mustafizur carefully before the T20 World Cup.

“How is it good for Mustafiz to play in the IPL? He has nothing to learn from the IPL,” Yunus said. “His learning process is over. In fact, the IPL players can learn from Mustafiz. It won’t benefit Bangladesh. You know the IPL is a game of four overs but there’s a lot of stress. They sometimes have to take a late flight after the match, which is difficult. We are worried about Mustafiz’s health and fitness. They [CSK] will want to get 100% out of him, without thinking about his fitness.”

“Two of our players joined the 2021 World Cup from the IPL,” Yunus said. “They said that they were exhausted. We don’t want a repeat of that. Mustafiz’s return from IPL doesn’t mean he will play against Zimbabwe. We will manage his workload. He will travel with the team, which will help his understanding with the players.

“He also has to adjust to conditions in the US, when we play three T20Is there in May. He has to be fit before the World Cup. He won’t be able to deliver if he is exhausted. We need a fresh Mustafiz. We don’t want an exhausted Mustafiz.”

The BCB’s decision to cap Mustafizur’s IPL stint highlights their tendency to be conservative in the build-up to major tournaments. Many felt that they experimented too much and rested important players ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup. The BCB also chose to play T20Is against Australia and New Zealand on raging turners in Mirpur before the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, where the pitches weren’t as spin-friendly. Both approaches backfired.

“I think he is benefitting greatly playing for Chennai. It obviously means that Bangladesh, too, will benefit from him. I think he will learn more from playing in the IPL than playing against Zimbabwe.”

Akram Khan, BCB director

Mustafizur is the only Bangladesh player in action at the IPL. A competitive tournament brings out the best in a player, which is true for Mustafizur as well. One of the indicators for Mustafizur’s confidence is his offcutter pitching and gripping. Mustafizur has got it to grip both at home and away in the IPL. According to ESPNcricinfo logs, the slower ball has been responsible for seven of his ten wickets this season. And he has conceded only 69 runs off 52 of those deliveries.

Stats updated until the GT vs DC game on April 17