Will Mustafiz become the debutant of the year?

Bangladesh cricket team’s find of 2015, the left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been chosen in the short-list of cricketers for the prestigious ESPNcricinfo debutant of the year award.

Vote Here: ESPNcricinfo Debutant of the Year

The ESPNcricinfo Awards recognise the best individual batting and bowling performances in cricket over the calendar year.

They are voted on by an independent jury of former cricketers, commentators, and ESPNcricinfo's senior writers. Previous winners have included Dale Steyn, Lasith Malinga, Mitchell Johnson, Shahid Afridi and Kumar Sangakkara.

In December 2015, the 20-year-old left-arm bowling sensation, Mustafizur Rahman became the first Bangladeshi cricketer from his country to make the ICC ODI Team of the Year.

Bangladesh’s ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was previously named in the Test Team of the Year in 2009, and Mustafizur made his mark with spectacular spells of fast bowling in 2015, especially against India at home.

History was made when Mustafizur took the highest number of wickets in a 3-match ODI series with 13 scalps against the full-strength Indian cricket team. His wickets came at an average of 11.53 while six for 43 was the pacer’s best bowling performance. The left-arm quickie also became the second bowler in cricketing history to take consecutive five-fors in his first two ODIs.

MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN (BAN)

-26 WICKETS AT 12.34 FROM 9 ODIS
-6 WICKETS AT 18.66 FROM 5 T20IS
-4 WICKETS AT 14.50 FROM 2 TESTS

Took five wickets on debut and another six in his next ODI to give Bangladesh their first series win over India. Is the leading wicket-taker in ODIs among international debutants this year.

Shakib Al Hasan (R) congratulates teammate Mustafizur Rahman (2R) for the dismissal of South African captain Hashim Amla during the first day of the first Test match. File Photo: AFP