Mushy's time to step up

It's been a while since Mushfiqur Rahim last scored a half-century in Tests. To be more precise, he hasn't scored a 50-plus knock in his last 10 innings. The last and only other time that happened was in 2008, barely a year and a half after his debut.

While the statistic doesn't necessarily mean that he is going through one of the worst patches in his career, it can build a bit of pressure.

In fact, the skipper himself admitted that he was a bit irritated for not being able to convert his starts recently.

"I am very much aware… and I am not liking it," the captain had said at the end of the first Test, in which he had scored a good-looking 28, before getting trapped in front by a fierce Dale Steyn delivery.

"But the good part about it is that I am hitting the ball well and I am confident that I can come back soon. Had it been anything else, I would have been a lot more concerned. Now that I play just as a batsman, it's a lot more important that I score runs," he added.

The fact that Mushfiqur is taking this drought very seriously is obvious from a number of factors. He has been running those extra laps, batting those extra deliveries in the nets and has also been to speaking to his childhood coach.

Of all the aspects though, the fact that Liton Das has taken over the keeping gloves is a sign that Mushfiqur really wants to concentrate on his batting.

Wicket-keeping has been Mushfiqur's forte ever since he entered the national team. There have been times in the past when he defied all odds and injuries to don those gloves -- an example of which was witnessed during the Pakistan series. And so, when Mushfiqur had readily admitted that he wasn't fit enough to keep prior to the first Test, it took quite few analysts by surprise.

Nazmul Abedin Fahim, who coached Mushfiqur during his BKSP days and was seen speaking to the player during training on Monday, didn't sound that worried.

"I have been observing him and I think that he doesn't have a technical problem. He is looking good. Maybe he is just under a bit of a pressure. I personally feel that he is just one innings away from a comeback. He just needs to enjoy the game again," Nazmul told The Daily Star yesterday.

For the sake of Mushfiqur and Bangladesh's fans, one would hope that Nazmul's prediction proves true in the upcoming Test against South Africa, because the hosts need their most consistent batsman to step up again.