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Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman (4) (cropped)
Mustafizur Rahman (4) (cropped) Image: Wikimedia Commons. Nurunnaby Chowdhury (Hasive) / CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

Mustafizur Rahman (Bengali: মুস্তাফিজুর রহমান; born 6 September 1995) is a Bangladeshi international cricketer. A left-arm fast-medium bowler, he is recognised for his slower cutters and his effectiveness in the death overs of limited-overs cricket. Popularly nicknamed "The Fizz", he is widely regarded as one of Bangladesh's leading fast bowlers, particularly in white-ball formats.

Key facts

Full name Mustafizur Rahman
Born 6 September 1995
Nationality Bangladeshi
Role Bowler
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium
Nickname The Fizz
International debut 2015, for Bangladesh
Current franchise (PSL) Lahore Qalandars

Background and rise

Mustafizur came to wider notice during the 2015 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, where his accurate cutters and slower deliveries drew attention from cricket pundits. The performances soon led to his inclusion in the Bangladesh national side in 2015.

International career

Mustafizur made his international debut for Bangladesh in 2015 and quickly established himself in the limited-overs formats. In his debut One Day International series against India in 2015, he became the first player to claim 11 wickets in his first two ODI matches, a performance that contributed to Bangladesh's series victory over India.

He has since represented Bangladesh in major international tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. According to the source, he has taken more wickets in the death overs of Twenty20 Internationals than any other bowler.

Franchise career

Indian Premier League

Mustafizur was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 for a fee of US$208,000. In that season he won his first Indian Premier League (IPL) title and finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He was the only overseas player to win the Emerging Player Award at the 2016 IPL.

He has subsequently played in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.

Pakistan Super League

In the Pakistan Super League, he plays for Lahore Qalandars.

Honours and recognition

  • ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year: 2015, 2018 and 2021.
  • ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year: 2021.
  • IPL Emerging Player Award: 2016 (with Sunrisers Hyderabad).
  • IPL champion: 2016 (with Sunrisers Hyderabad).

Significance

Mustafizur Rahman's emergence in 2015 marked a significant moment for Bangladesh cricket, with his variations — particularly the slower cutter — becoming a defining feature of his bowling. His debut ODI series against India helped raise the profile of Bangladesh in international limited-overs cricket, while his franchise stints across the IPL and PSL have made him one of the more widely travelled Bangladeshi cricketers in the global T20 circuit.

References