Keeping is up to Mushfiqur

MUSHFIQUR RAHIM

Chairman of the BCB's cricket operations Akram Khan has said that the team management will not think about relieving Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim of his duty behind the stumps without the captain's opinion.

Following Bangladesh's last Test against India in Hyderabad, calls for a back-up wicketkeeper in the side grew louder after Mushfiqur missed a couple of easy opportunities during the game at a time when Bangladesh were desperately hunting for wickets.

“We have not spoken to Mushfiqur regarding the issue, but it's something we have all been thinking about,” Akram told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

“His opinion is very important regarding this. The Bangladesh team won't leave for another two to four days and so we will sit with him and discuss the matter. Let's see what happens,” he added.

While Mushfiqur was not so swift behind the stumps, in front of it with the bat he was Bangladesh's best in the last Test.

“In the last Test, we played for five days. And we played well. But Mushfiqur was the one who spent the maximum amount of time in the middle. He kept for around 160 overs and then came to bat and scored a century. After that he went to keep again. What's important is to know what he wants. We trust him. His opinion will be important. I can tell you a 100 percent, that whatever will happen, will happen according to his opinion,” said Akram.

“If he says that doing all three roles is hurting his concentration then we may think of another keeper. But, his opinion is very important. There is no point talking about this issue if we don't know his opinion,” he added.

Liton Das is expected to be in the squad that will be touring Sri Lanka as a back-up wicketkeeper.