Sussex board Fizz train

MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN

It seems as though the entire world wants a piece of Mustafizur Rahman at the moment. He was signed up for the Pakistan Super League, although he did not go to play there due to an injury and then the Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a heated contest at the auctions.

The latest news is that the 20-year-old pacer, affectionately called Fizz, will be playing for Sussex in England for this year's NatWest T20 Blast competition.

Sussex Cricket made the announcement through their website yesterday. Mustafizur is the first Bangladeshi player to play for Sussex and the third to play for an England county. Shakib Al Hasan represented Worcestershire and Leicestershire while Tamim Iqbal played for Nottinghamshire.

Regarding his move to Sussex, Mustafizur said: “I am very excited to get an opportunity in county cricket. It has always been an ambition of mine to play in England and I am thankful to Sussex for this opportunity. I hope I can repay the faith they have shown in me with my performances on the field.”

Sussex head coach Mark Davis was extremely excited to see his side sign up the player.

“I am really excited to have Mustafizur join us at Sussex Cricket. He is a cricketer with incredible ability and is currently one of the brightest young talents in world cricket.

“His unorthodox bowling variations make him a very difficult customer to bat against, and he will be a brilliant addition to our team,” said Davis.

He is available for the whole of the Sharks' NatWest T20 Blast campaign, subject to Hyderabad's IPL progress.

At the moment the left-arm pacer is busy working on his recovery from the side strain that has ruled him out of the ongoing Asia Cup T20. He is working on a rehabilitation programme in a bid to be fit in time for the ICC World Twenty20.

Since 2015, Mustafizur has been Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker. He has scalped a total of 43 wickets in international cricket and has troubled opponents from all over the world.