Thinking of how to stay without batting: Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh batsman, has found himself in a fix regarding how to stay without batting. The COVID-19 pandemic has ensured that all forms of cricket in the Asian country got suspended until the situation gets back to normalcy. It’s not even a week since the Bogra-born was last seen on the cricket field during the opening match of this year’s Dhaka Premier League.

Playing for the Abahani Limited, he smashed 127 off 124 against Partex Sporting Club in Dhaka. His knock was laced with 11 fours and four hits over the ropes. Mushfiqur was adjudged as the Player of the Match after Abahani won the match by 81 runs. The sudden suspension of cricket due to the coronavirus issue has come as a massive blow to not only Bangladesh cricket, but also Rahim.

Mushfiqur Rahim to focus on fitness from home

Apart from chalking down his plans to stay without batting, the 32-year-old plans to gym and do running in order to stay fit. “I am thinking of how to stay without batting. I’ll do gym and running Insha Allah,” Mushfiqur was quoted as saying in BDcrictime.

In the wake of the deadly virus, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to suspend cricket, a decision welcomed by Mushfiqur. At this point of time, people around the world have been advised to stay indoors. Rahim is also determined to find a way of training all by himself. “I don’t know what others will do, but I’ll do it myself,” Rahim stated.

International cricket of Bangladesh has also had to bear the brunt of the coronavirus. The Tigers were scheduled for their third leg of the Pakistan tour later in March. They were set to play a solitary ODI at the National Stadium in Karachi. It was to be followed by a World Test Championship match at the same venue. But the tour has now been postponed.

Mushfiqur didn’t alter his decision of not travelling to Pakistan even after several request from the BCB and its chief Nazmul Hasan Papon. He was one of the very few Bangladesh players to feature in the 2020 auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he had to return empty handed after going unsold.