 emerged from humble beginnings to become one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated fast bowlers.){kind=link}
Mustafizur Rahman (born 6 September 1995) emerged from humble beginnings to become one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated fast bowlers. A left-arm fast-medium seamer known for his array of cutters and slower balls, Mustafizur was nicknamed “The Fizz” early in his career. He grew up in Tetulia, Satkhira – a rural town in Bangladesh’s Khulna Division – in a cricket-loving family. His father, Abul Qasem Gazi, was a passionate cricket fan, and Mustafizur and his four older brothers spent many mornings playing tennis-ball cricket far from home. Indeed, Mustafizur often practiced 40 km from his village, even missing school to attend training sessions. This dedication paid off when local players noticed his unusual skill with a tennis ball. As a teenager he finally got a chance with a leather ball: a local coach spotted him in the ritual TV Cup tournament and recommended him for age-group trials. He aced an Under-16 trial in Satkhira and was selected for the district and divisional teams. In 2012 he travelled to Dhaka to attend the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s fast-bowlers camp after having impressed scouts in an Under-17 tournament. This led to his admission into the national pace foundation, and soon he was chosen for Bangladesh’s Under-19 side in the 2014 U-19 World Cup (taking 8 wickets in the tournament). By the end of the 2013–14 season he made his first-class debut for Khulna Division, finishing that season with 26 wickets at an average of 19.08.
His rise accelerated in domestic T20 cricket. In the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) he played for Dhaka Dynamites and took 14 wickets in 10 matches. His deceptive slower balls and cutters – delivered with low trajectory – baffled batsmen. As one report noted, Mustafizur “foxes batters with his ever-growing arsenal of slower deliveries and cutters”. Indeed, Wikipedia observes that his career “took off during the 2015 BPL” when pundits were struck by his accuracy and variations, earning him the nickname “The Fizz”. By the end of that season he was being touted as a star in the making.
International Breakthrough (2015)
Mustafizur’s international debut came quickly after his BPL success. On 24 April 2015 he played his first match for Bangladesh in a Twenty20 International against Pakistan in Dhaka. The 19-year-old left-armer took 2/20 in his four overs – including the prized wicket of Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi – helping Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win (their first T20I victory over Pakistan). His control and variations were immediately noted. Captain Mashrafe Mortaza simply said, “He bowled brilliantly on his debut. The more pacers get support…and the higher our chances of winning”. Even Afridi admitted respect for the unknown bowler: “He bowled very maturely with many variations. He did very well,” he said. This promising start established Mustafizur’s confidence on the international stage.
Just six weeks later, he was drafted into Bangladesh’s ODI team for the home series against India in June 2015. In the first ODI at Mirpur he tore through India’s batting with a career-best 5/50 from 9.2 overs. Bangladesh won that match by 79 runs, and Mustafizur became the tenth bowler in ODI history to take a five-wicket haul on debut. He was even better in the second ODI, taking 6/43 in 10 overs. In doing so he set a new record: he is the first player ever to claim 11 wickets in his first two ODIs, surpassing the previous mark of 10. He finished the three-match series with 13 wickets – a haul that steered Bangladesh to a famous 2–1 series victory over India. After the first two matches, captain Mashrafe Mortaza remarked on the youngster’s talent: “Mustafizur was not a surprise for us. We know he can destroy any line-up.”
Mustafizur’s debut series drew instant comparisons to all-time great performances. Bangladesh’s veteran players were thrilled. Medium-pacer Abdur Razzak said simply that he was “tremendous” and Mashrafe was “very happy” with the performance. Even Bangladesh cricket pundits took note: Cricbuzz described Mustafizur Rahman as a “seasoned campaigner” despite being only 19, while the ICC named him to its World ODI XI for 2015. In July 2015 Mustafizur Rahman made his Test debut against South Africa (also in Mirpur), taking 4 wickets in the match and earning Man of the Match – a unique feat since he had also won that award on his ODI debut. He finished 2015 with 35 international wickets across all formats, cementing his reputation as Bangladesh’s leading pace prospect.
Injury Setbacks and Recovery
The breakout year of 2015 was followed by a string of fitness setbacks. After a successful ODI series at home in November 2015 (8 wickets against Zimbabwe), Mustafizur injured his shoulder during a T20 International in January 2016. This required surgery and he was sidelined for several months. He also missed much of the 2016 Asia Cup due to a side strain. At one point he was even dropped from the side, a rarity given his fast start. In Bangladesh’s 2016 T20 World Cup campaign he struggled early, but then regained form: in the match against New Zealand he delivered a spectacular 5/22, becoming the first Bangladeshi ever to take a five-for in a T20 World Cup. He ended that short tournament with 9 wickets in 3 matches and was named 12th man in the ICC’s “Team of the Tournament”. These highlights reminded everyone why he was so highly regarded.
Injuries continued to interrupt Mustafizur’s career. He missed tours (for example the early part of Bangladesh’s 2017 tour of New Zealand) and parts of seasons with domestic teams. Nonetheless, he often bounced back strongly when fit. Notably he was awarded a central contract by the Bangladesh Cricket Board in 2018 as one of the nation’s top ten players. On 5 July 2019 he reached another milestone by claiming his 100th ODI wicket (against Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup). He finished that World Cup as Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker (20 wickets in 8 matches). In short, despite the periodic injuries, Mustafizur consistently delivered key performances. As Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said in 2018, “He is our best T20 bowler and so it will be difficult” when Mustafizur was unavailable. Such praise from the captain underscored his importance to the team.
Domestic Cricket and BPL Achievements
In Bangladesh’s domestic circuit, Mustafizur has been equally influential. Beyond the BPL success mentioned, he has appeared in the Dhaka Premier League (the domestic List A competition) and local tournaments. For example, in April 2025 he joined Mohammedan Sporting Club for the Super Six phase of the Dhaka Premier League, bolstering the title-challengers after recovering from injury. In the BPL he moved between franchises but remained a leading wicket-taker. After Dhaka, he played for Rajshahi Kings (2017–2019) and Rangpur Rangers (2019–20), and was an icon player for Comilla Victorians (2022–24) and Dhaka Capitals (2024–25). By early 2025 he had taken over 100 wickets in the BPL – only the fourth bowler to achieve that mark after Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, and Rubel Hossain.
Mustafizur has had several match-winning spells in domestic T20 as well. In the 2022 BPL, playing for Comilla Victorians, he claimed 5/25 in a match against Chattogram – one of the league’s few five-wicket hauls. His consistent wicket-taking in the BPL has made him one of the tournament’s legends.
In first-class and List A domestic cricket, he played for Khulna Division (where he began his career) and for Abahani Limited in the Premier League (Bangladesh’s List A competition). His performances there early in his career – such as 26 first-class wickets in 2013–14 – helped push him into the national team.
Franchise T20 Leagues
Mustafizur’s reputation led to opportunities in foreign leagues. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) he has been a familiar name since 2016. Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him in the 2016 auction (for US$208,000). That year he took 17 wickets in 16 matches as SRH won the IPL title – a truly stellar debut season overseas. He was awarded the IPL’s “Emerging Player of the Tournament” for 2016 – notably the first overseas player ever to win that honour. Sunrisers retained him for 2017, but a late start and injuries limited his appearances.
He later had stints with other IPL franchises. In 2018 he was bought by Mumbai Indians (taking 7 wickets in 7 games). After missing the 2019 tournament due to injury, he returned in 2021 with Rajasthan Royals (14 wickets in 14 games). In 2022 he joined Delhi Capitals (8 wickets in 8 matches). Most recently, Chennai Super Kings signed him for the 2024 season. Throughout, he has been known for saving runs with his slower balls at the death and picking up important wickets in the middle overs.
In England’s T20 circuit, Mustafizur signed with Sussex for the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast. He made an immediate impact – 4/23 in his debut against Essex – before a shoulder surgery cut his stint short.
He was also selected by Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League 2016 draft. However, the Bangladesh board initially withheld his no-objection certificate and then a toe injury in early 2016 ultimately prevented his PSL debut.
More recently, he has been involved in newer leagues. He played in the Lanka Premier League for Dambulla’s side (as shown by team lists, though detailed stats are sparse) and was named for Abu Dhabi’s ILT20 franchise, though scheduling and NOC issues have limited his appearances there.
Bowling Style and Techniques
Mustafizur’s fame rests on the artistry of his bowling rather than raw pace. At about 130–135 km/h, he is not the fastest bowler, but his slow cutters are exceptional. He delivers the ball with a subtle change in grip and wrist position so that after pitching it often skids or deviates. These cutters can fool batsmen expecting full pace. Former India quick Ashish Nehra captured the sentiment well when he said Mustafizur “has a God-gifted slow ball.”. Mustafizur himself has said he developed his slower delivery at the urging of teammate Anamul Haque, who insisted he bowl a slower ball in practice. The result is a repertoire that includes off-cutters, back-of-the-hand deliveries, and bouncers of different speed, making it hard for batsmen to settle. Ex-India spinner Maninder Singh remarked that Mustafizur’s slower balls are “difficult to read” – a view shared by many commentators.
His style reflects a broader trend in modern T20 cricket. Tall bowlers like Pat Cummins and Trent Boult have similarly found success with well-disguised cutters. An analysis during IPL 2024 noted that Mustafizur’s cutters were “banged into the pitch” at length and often held up after pitching, moving away from batters committed to slogging. In one televised over in 2024, he bowled only cutters to Andre Russell and conceded just 9 runs in five scoring deliveries. Cricket experts observe that against left-handers his off-cutters turn away from the bat, creating chances for wickets, while against right-handers they are excellent defensive balls since the pace is taken off but the line forces the batsman to play within themselves. In short, Mustafizur has become a prototype of the modern pace bowler who uses clever variations.
Perception and Impact
Public and peer perception of Mustafizur Rahman is overwhelmingly positive. He is widely seen as one of Bangladesh’s finest bowlers in the post-2000 era. His nickname “The Fizz” became shorthand for a new generation of Bangladeshi pace talents. Teammates and coaches have lauded him since the beginning. Heath Streak, Bangladesh’s fast-bowling coach in 2015, warned that the young bowler “should be looked after and supported well” in order to unlock his full potential. Streak emphasised that Mustafizur “is still very young… If we look after him and support him, he will be a big match-winner for us.”. This sentiment proved prescient: Mustafizur has indeed won many matches for Bangladesh with his bowling.
Captains Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan (both icons of Bangladeshi cricket) have often spoken of Mustafizur’s importance. Mortaza publicly acknowledged that Mustafizur could dismantle any batting order. Shakib called him Bangladesh’s “best T20 bowler” and warned that the team would struggle in his absence. Opposing players also respect him: For example, during tours, international batsmen have noted how tricky his slow cutters can be. Ashish Nehra’s praise (above) and even Rohit Sharma acknowledging Mustafizur’s influence (in interviews) illustrate the broader admiration.
In statistical recognition, Mustafizur has won a string of awards. He was named ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2016 – the first Bangladeshi to ever win an ICC annual award. He has been selected three times (2015, 2018, 2021) in the ICC ODI Team of the Year and once in the T20I Team of the Year (2021). In the ICC’s eyes, he is firmly among the world’s elite bowlers. Domestically, fans revere him for his trademark celebrations and demeanor on the field; he is often seen dancing a bit after taking a wicket. The media and fan community count his debut series and 100th wicket as legendary moments in Bangladesh cricket history.
Legacy and Future Outlook
Mustafizur Rahman has left an indelible mark on cricket in Bangladesh and beyond. He helped restore belief in Bangladesh’s fast bowling and showed that even a relatively unknown player from the provinces could become a world-beater. His very first series (13 wickets vs India) remains a highlight in Bangladesh lore. Statistically, he holds several unique records. For instance, as of mid-2025 he has delivered over 1,000 dot balls in T20Is (a feat only matched by a few bowlers), and in May 2025 he became the first bowler ever to bowl 300 dot balls in T20I death overs. Such numbers underline his precision under pressure.
Looking ahead, Mustafizur is still in the prime of his career. Unlike older fast bowlers, he is only in his late 20s by the end of 2024. If he can manage his workload and fitness, he is likely to remain Bangladesh’s spearhead for several more years. He has expressed a desire to succeed across all formats, though injuries have limited his Test appearances (he has played only 15 Tests to date). In limited-overs cricket (ODIs and T20Is) he has already over 100 appearances and wicket tallies (175 ODI wickets and 136 T20I wickets as of July 2025). Veterans in the dressing room look to him for big performances.
Off the field, Mustafizur’s character – described as polite, focused and shy – sets an example. Younger players often cite his work ethic (remembering how he used to bowl tirelessly in nets even as a teenager). His former coaches have noted that he rarely sledges or provokes batsmen, letting his bowling do the talking.
In conclusion, Mustafizur’s legacy is that of a pioneer and match-winner. He expanded the toolkit of fast bowlers with his cutters, and inspired others in Bangladesh to believe a left-arm seamer could excel. As Heath Streak predicted, with careful management, Mustafizur became a “big match-winner” for Bangladesh. He has already ensured many historic victories – from whitewashing India in 2015 to spearheading runs in World Cups. The future should see him add to this legacy, potentially guiding Bangladesh to further success and mentoring the next generation of pacers. If cricket history is kind, Mustafizur Rahman will be remembered as the bowler who gave Bangladesh one of its most potent weapons and as a quintessential specialist of the modern cutter game.
Sources: Mustafizur Rahman’s career details have been documented in cricket profiles and news reports. Quotes and insights are drawn from interviews and news coverage. Statistics and records are taken from reliable cricket databases and ICC acknowledgements. You can see Mustafizur Rahman’s Facebook profile.
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