DHAKA: Two of the mainstays of Bangladesh cricket team’s recent successes in international cricket Shakib Al Hasan (ICC top-ranked all-rounder in all formats) and Mustafizur Rahman (wonder boy of World Cricket) are part of two leading teams of IPL.

Shakib is playing his seventh season and Fizz is on his second. Shakib played important role in all season including the KKR winning the trophy twice in the past as leading all-rounder. Fizz rocked and rolled in his very first appearance assisting his team Sunrises Hyderabad winning the title. He won the “best emerging player” award. Both were an important part of Bangladesh successful mission in Sri Lanka. Even in their last T20 against Sri Lanka both performed exceptionally and won the farewell match of their captain Mashrafe. Shakib went directly from Sri Lanka to join KKR while Fizz went a few days later.

Surprisingly, KKR kept the top-ranked all-rounder on the bench. Fizz, after one bad day on the ground, was also ignored in the second match. KKR and Sunrisers will again play today. Admirers would eagerly wait for both appearing for respective teams.

This writer is particularly not fascinated with the T20 format of the game. Moreover, knowing very well the dark sides of IPL do not even watch IPL although watching cricket is his passion. Reading the various posts on Shakib and Fizz being overlooked in IPL makes me write my opinion.

KKR and SH have a definite strategy and match planning. KKR is on a winning streak and any team in shorter format hesitates to break the winning streak. The absence of Shakib is being hotly debated in Indian media. But team management is just not finding a way to introduce their trump card. We are sure he will play and may even play today. Not playing him does not mean they are undervaluing him. Fans and followers must wait. Shakib is an invaluable part of any team in any format. He plays all over the cricket world and can adjust to any situation.

The situation of Fizz is different. He is only twenty and always rearing to go. He was exceptional last season. His captain and team management have definite plan with him. Rushing him play in his first match immediately after arriving from Bangladesh was possibly not right. He struggled in his first match leaking runs and failing to make any impact. That is not the end of his IPL this year. He will bounce back for sure. Maybe today. He is too good a player to be sitting and warming the bench.

Fans and followers must read through lines what the captain Mashrafe said. “I am least worried about Shakib and Mustafiz not playing in IPL. All I am interested how they play for Bangladesh. Just because they are not in the playing XI does not mean they are out of form.”

But as a cricket analyst, I think if Shakib and Fizz are not played today and next matches they should rather be called back and play in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League and then join the team for warm up in Sussex leading to the triangular series and ICC Champions Trophy. I am not sure their franchises would agree. But match practice for both will be useful especially for Fizz who has returned from injury not long back.

In any case, let us wait and see whether both or one of them play today.

BDST: 0940 HRS, APR 17, 2017
SR