Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman isn't someone who gets overtly expressive about his feelings off the field. On the field though, he is a completely different character.

So when the time came for him to speak to the media regarding his inclusion in the ICC's 2014-2015 ODI team of the year yesterday, he was a tad nervous. While he kept his answers short and concise, it was evident that the achievement meant a lot to him.

"My manager told me the news before I got to the field. But I got the real feel when everyone started congratulating me on the field. And after that it felt really good," Mustafizur told reporters in Chittagong yesterday.

"I am the first player from the country to be included and it really made me feel happy," he added, as he became the second Bangladeshi on any ICC team of the year list; Shakib Al Hasan being the other, who made the Test team of the year in 2009.

"I am obviously happy. I am supposed to be. I have been given a place alongside the biggest players in the world and that's good," he added.

According to Mustafizur, though, the achievement won't influence his bowling in any way.

"I always think of doing well. Whether it's before or after [any achievement], I want to do something good for my country," said the left-armer.

The ICC's ODI team has been selected based on players' performances from September 18, 2014 to September 13, 2015. The team also includes Tillakaratne Dilshan, Hashim Amla, Kumar Sangakkara, AB de Villiers, Steven Smith, Ross Taylor, Trent Boult, Mohammed Shami, Mitchell Starc and Imran Tahir; with de Villiers as the skipper and Sangakkara as the wicketkeeper.

During this time period, Mustafizur played just six ODIs but managed to scalp 18 wickets while majority of the others in that eleven played a lot more matches. The likes of Tahir and Starc played 22 matches each. However, at 12.61, Mustafizur's bowling average was the best of the lot.

His performance against India -- a three-match series where he got 13 wickets – was a key factor behind Bangladesh's dominance in the series. He added five more scalps in the series against South Africa.

The young pacer's achievement has earned him rich plaudits from all quarters, including his Bangladesh teammates. ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza described this feat as an achievement that 'every Bangladeshi' should be proud of.

"This is a big achievement for all of us. Hopefully he will continue because this is not the end. Hopefully, he will get a spot in the Test side in future as well. But at the moment, the way he has taken a position in such a big place, I think is something that we should all be proud of," said Mashrafe.

"The amount that he has achieved at such a young age… none of us expected really from him. It's not just the fact that he has got a chance in the ICC ODI XI; it's the way he has been bowling. He has influenced the entire balance of the team for the better," concluded Mashrafe.

Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim said he feels 'privileged to have played alongside Mustafizur', while opener Tamim Iqbal said Mustafizur deserves every bit of recognition that he got.

"That's an absolutely amazing news. He deserves the place; there's no doubt about that, not even 0.1 per cent doubt. He deserves it 100 per cent. Hopefully next year there will be more of us in that list," said Tamim.