Bangladesh pace bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman has signed for English county side Sussex for the upcoming season. The 20-year old will be the first Bangladeshi to feature for Sussex and the third Tigers cricketer after Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal to play in the English county circuit.
The Satkhira lad took the cricketing world by storm last year when he became the first player in history to pick up 11 wickets in the first two ODI appearances. He was also the first Bangladeshi cricketer to be named in the ICC ODI team of the year.
Mustafizur, who will also partake in the upcoming ninth season of the Indian Premier League for the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise, will join Sussex as soon as his assignment comes to an end in India.
The left-arm paceman was earlier roped in by Pakistan Super League Twenty20 franchise Lahore Qalandars but was unable to participate due to a shoulder injury.
The “Cutter Master” has so far bagged 26 wickets in nine ODIs, 13 in 10 T20Is and four in two Tests.
“I am very excited to get an opportunity in county cricket. It has always been an ambition of mine to play in England and I am thankful to Sussex for this opportunity. I hope I can repay the faith they have shown in me with my performances on the field,” said Mustafizur.
He will replace former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor, who will be engaged with international duty in July, as the second overseas player for Sussex and turn out in the Natwest T20 Blast and the Royal London 50-over Cup.
Sussex coach Mark Davis duly expressed happiness with the addition of the new pace sensation.
“I am really excited to have Mustafizur join us at Sussex. He is a cricketer with incredible ability and is currently one of the bright young talents of world cricket. His unorthodox bowling variations make him a very difficult customer to bat against, and he will be a brilliant addition to our team,” he said.
Mustafizur is currently sitting out the ongoing Asia Cup T20 after incurring a side-strain injury during the round-robin clash against Sri Lanka last Sunday.