10 things you need to know about Mustafizur Rahman

Two matches, two 5-wicket hauls

Mustafizur Rahman is currently the toast of Bangladesh. The left-arm seamer has grabbed eyeballs after picking back-to-back 5-wicket hauls (in his first two matches) in ODI Cricket in the ongoing series against India. Here are 10 things that you need to know about him:

1. Mustafizur Rahman was born on 6 September 1995 in Satkhira (a district in the south-western part of Bangladesh). He was just 3 and half years old when Bangladesh played their first ever World Cup match.

2. At a very young age, he started off as a batsman playing with the Tennis ball in his hometown before starting to take his bowling talents seriously.

3. His elder brother Mokhlesur Rahman used to ride 40 kilometers with him on his bike every morning to take him to the training area.

4. Scouts from Satkhira spotted his talent and picked him to play under-17 tournaments before calling him up for a pace bowling camp at Dhaka.

5. Mustafizur’s rise was so rapid that he started bowling in the Bangladesh nets very shortly after he started bowling in the U-19 nets.

6. He became a regular for the Under-19 team and even went on to play the World Cup last year picking up 9 wickets in 6 games.

7. He made his first-class debut for Khulna division in the 2013-14 season and cemented his spot soon after.

8. He went on to pick 26 wickets this season and ended up with the best average among other pacers who picked more than 20.

9. His slower deliveries have fetched him most of the wickets so far, but he tried it for the very first time against Anamul Haque only recently during a nets session and got him out.

10. He made his international debut in a T20 match against Pakistan and Shahid Afridi was his first wicket.

[Facts via ESPN Cricinfo]