Bangladesh paceman Mustafizur Rahman is settling down well at Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The left-arm pacer, who left Dhaka earlier this week ahead of his maiden appearance in the IPL, was a bit nervous initially, considering that this will be his first outing in a foreign league since his international bow last year.
However, by the look of things it seems that the 20-year old is adjusting fine with his team mates. Several photographs on the official Facebook page of Sunrisers show a relaxed Mustafizur mingling with colleagues Shikhar Dhawan, Trent Boult and Bhuvneshwar Kumar through a game of pool.
The side later underwent their first practice session yesterday.
Sunrisers’ Australian coach Tom Moody in the meantime heaped praise on Mustafizur, terming him a “world-class talent” despite being a relatively newbie in international cricket. The former all-rounder said the Bangladesh cricketer will strengthen the Sunrisers’ bowling attack.
“I met him (Mustafizur) during the World Twenty20. He is a promising young cricketer. I hope he will cope with the team well. He is a big-match player and has proved that in the Asia Cup and World T20. The team has all its belief in him,” said Moody yesterday.
Moody believes Mustafizur and India left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra will prove to be a deadly combination for the Sunrisers in the upcoming ninth edition. “They both are top-level bowlers and will make a good effect in the shortest format of cricket,” said Moody.
Mustafizur’s heroics in world cricket last year propelled him to the limelight, turning him into a sensation overnight. Later in the IPL players’ auction held last February, the cutter-specialist was roped in by the Hyderabad franchise for Indian rupees 14m.
The Sunrisers will kick
off their 2016 IPL campaign this Tuesday with an away game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Four days later, Mustafizur’s side will take on Shakib al Hasan’s Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
