Cricket

Mustafizur likely to sit out

MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN

Bangladesh's trump card, pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman, is likely to sit out today's second ODI against New Zealand at the Saxton Oval in Nelson, according to advice from the team physio Dean Conway.

Mustafizur is still in the recovery process after undergoing surgery on his shoulder in August, but was deemed fit enough to play the first of three ODIs at Christchurch on Monday. Bangladesh lost that match by 77 runs and will lose the series if that result is repeated today.

According to team sources, it was part of the plan before the series started that the left-arm pacer will be rested for one of the three ODIs, with the debate surrounding which of the three ODIs he will sit out.

Till yesterday, it was thought that Rubel Hossain may replace Mustafizur if the latter is rested, but it was learnt that the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is leaning towards giving the uncapped Subhashis Roy to see how he fares.

The 15-man squad, named for the first ODI, sees just one enforced change for the second match with Nurul Hasan coming in for the injured Mushfiqur Rahim. The team may also see another change as Hathurusingha finally seemed to pull the rug out from underneath a non-performing Soumya Sarker's feet when he said yesterday that it was about time they look for someone else.

However, the sources maintained that given the importance of the match, all the aforementioned decisions may change depending on the coach's wishes on the morning of the match. 

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Mustafizur likely to sit out

MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN

Bangladesh's trump card, pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman, is likely to sit out today's second ODI against New Zealand at the Saxton Oval in Nelson, according to advice from the team physio Dean Conway.

Mustafizur is still in the recovery process after undergoing surgery on his shoulder in August, but was deemed fit enough to play the first of three ODIs at Christchurch on Monday. Bangladesh lost that match by 77 runs and will lose the series if that result is repeated today.

According to team sources, it was part of the plan before the series started that the left-arm pacer will be rested for one of the three ODIs, with the debate surrounding which of the three ODIs he will sit out.

Till yesterday, it was thought that Rubel Hossain may replace Mustafizur if the latter is rested, but it was learnt that the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is leaning towards giving the uncapped Subhashis Roy to see how he fares.

The 15-man squad, named for the first ODI, sees just one enforced change for the second match with Nurul Hasan coming in for the injured Mushfiqur Rahim. The team may also see another change as Hathurusingha finally seemed to pull the rug out from underneath a non-performing Soumya Sarker's feet when he said yesterday that it was about time they look for someone else.

However, the sources maintained that given the importance of the match, all the aforementioned decisions may change depending on the coach's wishes on the morning of the match. 

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