Mustafizur signs with Melbourne Renegades for BBL16
The Bangladesh pacer will make his Big Bash debut this season, with the Renegades banking on his death-bowling skills to fill the void left by the injured Jason Behrendorff
Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman will make his Big Bash League debut this season after signing with the Melbourne Renegades for for BBL 16. He will become the third Bangladeshi cricketer to feature in the BBL, after Shakib Al Hasan and Rishad Hossain.
The 400-plus wicket T20 veteran is set to join the Renegades following his ILT20 commitments, with the franchise viewing him as a replacement for the injured Jason Behrendorff and a key addition to their death-bowling options.
"I am looking forward to playing in the BBL for the first time with the Melbourne Renegades. It will be special to play at the MCG and I'm excited to join my teammates and contribute to the team," said Mustafizur.
Renegades General Manager Max Abbott, speaking at a Zoom press conference on Wednesday, said the Bangladesh pacer had been on their shortlist from the outset. Behrendorff's unavailability for the entire season due to injury further strengthened their interest in Mustafizur, who offers a similar left-arm bowling option.
"We were looking for a death-bowling option for us to really back-end the games. And as we know, there's no one better than Mustafiz playing in that role," Abbott said.
He added that Mustafizur's familiarity among Australian cricket fans, coupled with his distinctive variations, would make his arrival an exciting prospect.
"I think Australian fans are quite familiar with Mustafiz. He's obviously been playing in World Cups for a number of years now. And with the affectionate nickname of the Fizz that we all know him as, I think there's going to be a lot of excitement, not just because of the profile he has, but also because of the skills he has, very unique to him. He bowls those slower balls and has those skills at the death that nobody else has," Abbott said.
Mustafizur is expected to miss the Renegades' opening game in Chennai due to the overlap with the ILT20. The franchise will assess his availability for the second game, depending on how his ILT20 team's campaign progresses. For now, they are planning on having him available for their December 22 fixture against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG.
The Renegades have also begun marketing his arrival to Melbourne's Bangladeshi community. A dedicated 'Fizz Bay' section will be set up at the MCG for their home games on January 1 and January 16.
