We need to make sure we keep Mustafizur Rahman fit, says Courtney Walsh
Bangladesh interim coach, Courtney Walsh has revealed that Mustafizur Rahman's fitness was his primary concern ahead of the team’s first T20I against Afghanistan in Hyderabad. Walsh added that the proper handling of the fast-bowler for the upcoming season is at the top of his priority list.
Mustafizur burst onto the international scene in a twenty overs match against Pakistan on April 24 in 2015, where he went on to claim the wickets of Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, two veteran Pakistani batsmen. Since then the young lad has emerged as one of the brightest talents in the pace department due to his precision deliveries and stunning yorkers.
Rahman made a name for himself in the IPL when he played his debut season for Sunrisers Hyderabad back in 2016 as he took 17 wickets from 16 games and won the emerging player of the season that year and also his first IPL trophy. After being picked
Bangladesh bowling coach and interim head coach, Courtney Walsh, revealed his frustration over Rahman’s injury as he said that it was important to manage the pacer’s schedule in order to prevent injuries like this.
“It’s a cause of concern for me. It’s the second time he has come back from the IPL with an injury. “We need to make sure we keep him (Mustafizur) fit and make him stronger because he is young, talented and has everything to offer. We need to get his mind right and get his bowling up to the standards he can be,” Walsh told TOI.
Walsh, who claimed 519 Test wickets throughout his career, added that being a mentor to an evolving nation, it was disturbing for him to see someone as exciting as Mustafizur could be lost to injuries ever so often.
“We get an idea of the workload once he comes back. At the end of the day, the player himself got to own that responsibility because you are working for two different
Walsh rued the pressure that the IPL brought with it on players such as Rahman who are often lured by hefty contracts and the hype that surrounds the tournament. But he added that it also empowered players like Rahman as it gave them a stage to express themselves.
"We didn’t know about his injury. That made it more frustrating. Had we known about his injury earlier, we could have done something to get him back on the park quicker. He came to play a practice game. The message has been sent to him. He has to communicate through the right channel,” Walsh said.
