Sussex willing to wait on Fizz

Bangladesh left-arm bowling sensation Mustafizur has been in action in the ongoing Indian Premier League from April 12 and missing home during his longest period away from his rustic village at Tetulia, Bangladesh. Considering Mustafizur’s predicament, Sussex County Cricket Club agreed to give the 20-year-old extra time off following speculation he was considering pulling out of coming to England altogether once his stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad is completed.

“Fizz is definitely coming but we are just clarifying the number of games he is going to play.” Sussex skipper Luke Wright stated, reports The Argus.

“We have to understand he is a young lad who has been away from home for a long time in an environment where he doesn’t speak the language. He’s also played a lot of games so we want to give him enough time to rest so that when he does come over we get the best out of him.” Wright added.

Read: Sussex want Bangladesh star Mustafizur Rahman to play

“We always knew he was likely to miss the first two games so it is a case of whether he misses an extra game or not. Obviously we’d like him for as many games as possible as he is in such great form but either way he’ll still be available for a large chunk of the matches.”

According to the Argus, Sunrisers play their last group game on Sunday – two days after Sussex take on Gloucestershire at Bristol – but are on course to qualify for the knockout stages with the final scheduled for May 29.

Also read: Homesick Fizz seeking a break

That would make it possible for Rahman to feature in Sussex’s second game against Somerset at Hove on June 1 but he is almost certain to miss that and the home game against Surrey two days later, with his debut likely to be the visit of Kent on June 10.

Fizz is the vital cog in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling machine, and is the go-to bowler for skipper Warner when the going gets tough, especially at the death. Mustafiz has taken 14 wickets from 12 matches at an average of 21.42 while giving away only 6.66 runs per over (Stat updated after match on May 15, 2016).

Read: The Grip that gripped IPL

Mustafiz took the cricketing world by storm when he captured 11 wickets in his first two one-day matches, and enabled Tigers to register their maiden series win over India in 2015. He became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to make the ICC ODI Team of the Year.

Also read: Shoaib advises Fizz

Mustafizur Rahman celebrates with his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate after taking Gujarat Lions batsman Ravindra Jadeja's wicket. File Photo: BCCI