Will Mustafizur Rahman Play BPL 2024 Final?

Comilla Victorians’ captain, Litton Kumar Das, remains optimistic about the availability of senior pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the Bangladesh Premier League T20 final on March 1. Mustafizur, who sustained a head injury requiring five stitches on February 18, has been sidelined since then but showed his support for the team by attending the first qualifier match at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on February 26.

Expressing hope for Mustafizur’s return, Litton mentioned his potential comeback to practice soon. In Mustafizur’s absence, Comilla Victorians opted to field first in the qualifier match, focusing on their batting strength.

“We are hopeful that he (Mustafizur) will be available in the final,” Litton Das told reporters after the game.

“He will start practicing from tomorrow or the day after and we are hopeful and please pray that he is available in the final,” he said.

Why did Litton choose to field first?

“We took fielding after winning the toss, and it was largely due to the fact we did not have Mustafizur because while defending, we can go on the back foot to some extent (due to unavailability of Mustafizur) and we had two bowlers. Because Mushfiqur did not play for long time and it was first match of Barsan, we decided to chase as our batting line-up is big,” he added.

Litton lauded the performance of Towhid Hridoy, whose 64 runs off 43 balls eased pressure off him during their crucial partnership. Their 143-run stand played a pivotal role in Comilla Victorians’ victory, securing their third successive final berth.

Litton praised Hridoy’s batting prowess, highlighting his ability to hit sixes and handle deliveries adeptly. Hridoy leads the tournament’s run-scoring chart with 447 runs in 13 games, boasting an impressive strike-rate of 149.4 and an average of 49.64.

He also emphasized Hridoy’s dedication to fitness and cricket, acknowledging his significant contribution to the team’s success. With Mustafizur’s potential return ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka following the BPL, Bangladesh anticipates a boost in confidence. Hridoy’s exceptional form is expected to bolster Bangladesh’s prospects in the upcoming series, comprising ODIs, T20Is, and Tests.