Mustafizur Rahman cleared by BCB to play for Sussex

The Bangladesh cricket board (BCB) has cleared young paceman Mustafizur Rahman to play for English county team Sussex after fears he was suffering burnout, a senior official said on Thursday. The 20-year-old fast bowling sensation, nicknamed ‘Fizz’, was signed as their second overseas cricketer in March for the NatWest T20 Blast tournament and the Royal London One-Day Cup. He was scheduled to join Sussex earlier this month but could do so because of an ankle niggle which he picked up during the IPL which concluded last month.

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) medical team feared that the cricketer might be burnt out after gruelling campaigns in the ICC World T20 and IPL. Mario Villavarayan, the fitness and mental conditioning coach of the Bangladesh side has stated that it would take up to a month for the 20-year old pacer to recover from his ankle and hamstring injuries he sustained in India.

“Our medical team has given a positive report about Mustafizur Rahman’s physical condition,” BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP. He is doing fine in training at the moment and we expect him to improve by the time he leaves for the UK. He will leave for England on July 13 subject to visa availability,” he said.

Rahman is now expected to make his debut for Sussex against Hampshire at Hove on July 15 in the NatWest T20 Blast and play at least four matches in the competition. He is also expected to play four more matches in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

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Sussex, who are currently fourth in the South Group, three points behind leaders Glamorgan in the NatWest T20 Blast, have signed Sri Lanka seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for a short term as they continue to await Rahman’s arrival.