Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is likely to feature for Prime Bank South Zone in the second round of the Bangladesh Cricket League, the country's premier four-day cricket competition, which begins today.
While Mustafizur was deemed medically fit, Bangladesh's selectors believed that he was not at his peak as far as match-fitness levels are concerned. They believed that it was too early to make Mustafizur play a Test and that he needed __more time to recover from his shoulder surgery.
As a result, they decided to include him in the Bangladesh Cricket League and create a step-by-step process for his comeback into the national team. As of now, the selectors are hoping Mustafizur will have had enough game-time prior to the Sri Lanka series which is set to begin in March.
One of the crucial factors that led to his exclusion was the speed that he was bowling with ever since his return to cricket. The left-armer, prior to the surgery, used to be able to reach the 140 kmph mark. However, ever since his return, he has been bowling between the 120 and 127 kmph.
The inclusion of Mustafizur into the South Zone team could actually create a problem for skipper Abdur Razzak, since he now has a number of ex-national players in his team. Al-Amin Hossain and Rubel Hossain are also a part of this team.
South Zone drew their earlier game against BCB North Zone at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium and they will be facing league leaders Islami Bank East Zone, who will be without the hero of their first game, LIton Das. The track at Sylhet is expected to be a batsman's paradise.
At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Walton Central Zone will take on BCB North Zone.