Not interested to keep wickets in Tests, says Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim has been one of the most important middle-order batsmen for Bangladesh alongside skipper Shakib Al Hasan in the last decade. However, wicket-keeping was proving to be a burden and a greater load for him, stopping him from concentrating fully on his batting. Thus, the 32-year-old is now keen on giving up keeping duties to contribute to the Bangladesh team solely as a batsman.

"I am not interested to keep wickets in Test. Now there are lots of games in the upcoming days and I play in all formats. Apart from international cricket I play in DPL (Dhaka Premier League) and BPL (Bangladesh Premier League). Considering everything, I think it is getting a bit over-loaded," Mushfiqur told Cricbuzz.

Mushfiqur considers himself lucky to have not had a major injury in the past five years. He has evolved into one of the senior pros in the team and has won many matches for his side single-handedly. He believes since he plays all three formats and with a chance of a major injury around the corner anytime, he needs to put lesser load on the body rather than ending up missing the games due to injuries.

"I want to perform for a long time and because I am playing across formats I needed to think. I did not have any severe injury during the last five years but at the same time I did not take substantial amount of rest,” he said.

"In future, such scenarios should not arise that I have to take rest in one or two series. So instead of that [missing series for rest] the only thing that I can do is minimize my workload and that is only possible by not keeping in Test and that's why I have taken this decision," he added.

Rahim understands that keeping is more of a load to him now having crossed 30 and feels that despite scoring double hundreds as a keeper, he sees giving up wicket keeping as a way to prolong his career as a batsman. Having said that, he assures that if ever the team requires him to keep wickets, he will always be ready to take up the gloves.

"It is not that I cannot do well despite keeping wickets. I scored my two double centuries while keeping wickets and it is same with all my Test centuries. Probably as a keeper by batting record is better and I still feel that when I am keeping I get a better idea about my batting because I can see everything from behind and it helps," he said.

" I have crossed 30 long time back and if you want to say that is one way of having a long career. What I feel is that I need to play at my best and have to keep my excellence. I just don't want to be part of the playing XI. Where ever I play I want to give my best. But if they [team management] want me to keep wickets in Test in future than that is up to them and you have to give preference to the demand of the team management. For the time being I don't want to keep wickets in Test," he concluded.