Fizz brings a refreshing attitude to the game

Bangladesh pace ace wants to be known as a great human whatever his exploits on the pitch

Promising Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman — Fizz to friends — never lets success get to his head and says rather modestly that he would be happy to be remembered as a “good human being” if he does not make it to cricketing folklore, little realising he may have already reached there.

The shy, 21-year-old speedster who burst into the limelight on his debut in 2015 when India toured Bangladesh, is only the second player to have returned fivers in his first two One Day Internationals (ODIs).

At 19, the wiry left-arm pacer with a tendency to thrive on offcutters to reap dividends, made giant holes in the hallowed Indian batting line-up boasting of the likes of Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.

It was because of his 5-50 and 6-43 in his first two ODIs that once-minnows Bangladesh won those games and the three-match series, their first India haul.

Only Zimbabwe’s Brian Vitori has two five-wicket hauls in his first two ODIs besides Fizz.

“I never let success get into my head. You guys keep asking me about being something big, great talent and so on,” Mustafizur told IANS.

“If I cannot become a great cricketer, I will at least want to be remembered as a good human being,” the soft-spoken 21-year-old said.

In the World T20 last year, Mustafizur displayed his variation of cutters in the Super 10 match against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens, returning 5-22.

Known as a bowler who has a bagful of tricks and uses his variations tactfully, Mustafizur returned a different bowler after shoulder surgery last August.

He wasn’t impressive in New Zealand, where he got just one wicket, and was subsequently given a break, thereby staying out of action in the one-off Test against India in February.

“I was not fit for the series,” he replied when asked whether he missed being part of the tie.

During Bangladesh’s last tour of Sri Lanka, Mustafizur scalped eight wickets in two Tests, six in three ODIs and four in two T20 games.

Picked in the auction last year by Sunrisers, Mustafizur is in his second season with the franchise. “I don’t have any target in mind. I always try to give my best and help my team win at the end of the day,” he signed off.