Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Mustafizur Rahman said that he was proud to get the chance to represent his country Bangladesh in all platforms, whether it was in the IPL or in the international arena.
Nicknamed "The Fizz" because of his fizzing off-cutters, the 20-year old cricketer has been a sensation after his World T20 performance, and has now carried it on to the IPL as well.
The young star, who was bought for Rs.1.4 crores by the SRH franchise in the 2016 IPL auctions said that he prefers playing the shorter formats. "I enjoy playing all kinds of cricket but the ones that wrap up in a day like T20s and ODIs -- those are the ones I like the most," he said.
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"I always wish for my country to stand tall, not only in cricket but any sport," he said.
He proudly says that he is happy about the fact that he has brought joy to his village of Tetulia, located in south-western Bangladesh. "It feels very good. People, my friends come up to me and say: 'We're going to watch you play today' or 'Oh, we saw you play!' -- it feels really great to hear such things.”
Mustafizur recalled his days back when he was aspiring cricketer. "My brother used to take me to (the nearest town) Satkhira every day and then bring me back home to our village. It was very difficult. There were a few academies in Satkhira where I used to practise but otherwise I had to practise in the schoolyard all by myself.”
Also read: IPL 2016: Why Mustafizur Rahman could be the best signing this year
He has been a significant bowler for SRH this IPL season, with an average of 21.25, picking all big wickets in most of the matches. He also holds the join-best economy rate of 2.25 this season, along with John Hastings. The southpaw also had the best strike rate in the World T20 and his bowling figures of 5/22 against New Zealand was the best by any bowler in the tournament.
He made his Test debut in July 2015 against South Africa in Chittagong, where he took four for 37 in the rain-affected match, which ended in a draw. However, Bangladesh won the ODI series and Mustafizur's exceptional bowling was praised.
Mustafizur also has the best bowling average in Twenty20 in the past 12 months and he is just below the Caribbean spinner Sunil Narine in the best economy rate table.
Earlier this year, Mustafizur bagged a deal with Sussex and become the first Bangladeshi to be selected to play for the English county.
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