Mushy stands firm despite BCB coaxing
Mushfiqur Rahim stuck to his original decision of not touring Pakistan for the third and final phase of Bangladesh's tour in April regardless of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) once more asking the cricketer to reconsider.
Bangladesh will play a solitary ODI and the next Test against the home side through the third phase of the tour.
It had been learned that BCB President Nazmul Hassan had met the cricketers ahead of the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Sylhet Sunday, and asked the team management to convince Mushfiqur.
Members of the team management talked to the experienced batsman following the match to impress upon him that his occurrence would strengthen the batting following the Tigers fared poorly in the first Test in February. Mushfiqur, however, stood firm on his decision.
There is also talk that the team management wanted to rest Mushfiqur for the 3rd and final ODI against Zimbabwe to possess a look at a few young players and solidify the lineup that would play the first ODI.
The 32-year-old will however play the next ODI against Zimbabwe today.
"He [Mushfiqur Rahim] is meant to play tomorrow [Tuesday]," chief selector Minhajul Abedin told The Daily Star yesterday.
Hassan had initially allow cricketers decide whether they would visit Pakistan and Mushfiqur was the only player who opted from the first two legs of the tour, citing security concerns.
However, Hassan last month said that all centrally-contracted cricketers, including Mushfiqur, ought to be part of the last leg of the Pakistan tour.
