Return of the Fizz?

Won't it be an interesting coincidence for Bangladesh's new pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman to make his World Cup debut against the team who were also his opponents in his international debut nearly a year ago?

Cricket fans talk more about his 11-wicket burst against India in the first two games of the three-match ODI series that Bangladesh won 2-1. But it was against Pakistan that the lithe left-arm pace bowler made his first impression in the lone T20I in Bangladesh's home of cricket in Mirpur.

His first international wicket was Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain who did not like his dismissal after being deceived by those famous cutters the world took note of for the first time. The 20-year-old's second wicket was Mohammed Hafeez. After failing to negotiate the slow cutters, the Pakistan opener tried to do something different. He shuffled across with an intention to flick from his off-stump. But he was absolutely dumbfounded by an intelligent leg-stump yorker that disturbed his furniture.

Mustafizur was the focal point of discussion at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday, ahead of Bangladesh's opening group game of the Super Ten stage against Pakistan at the famous venue today. From press briefing to cricketing discussions, the one question that did the round was whether Mustafizur will make his World Cup debut at the Eden Gardens today?

The Bangladesh team management did not give a straightforward answer.

“He has improved a lot. We have 24 hours to make a decision on him after assessing his fitness,” Mashrafe said at the briefing. While Mashrafe was attending the press conference, Mustafizur started bowling for the first time in 16 days [he bowled a few overs at Dharamsala on March 13] since suffering a side strain against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup on February 28.

Mustafizur started his bowling with a short run-up at around 3.10pm with Tamim Iqbal taking strike in the Eden nets. Then tape was rolled to mark his full run-up and he bowled at full pace for nearly an hour without showing any sign of discomfort. He also took part in a fielding session with Al-Amin at the far end of the ground, showing every sign of playing Bangladesh's most important game of ICC's flagship event.

The Eden wicket, which takes spin, is also an ideal pitch for Mustafizur to use his cutters effectively.  Although there is a notion that he was not fully fit and also lacked any match practice, it is absolutely imperative for Bangladesh to introduce him against Pakistan because if Bangladesh can win their opening game, it will set them on the right path to the knock-out stage of the tournament.

With Mustafizur around it not only adds variety to the Tigers' bowling, but more importantly it will act as insurance for Mashrafe, both in desperate and good times. And unless something extraordinary happens, the young pace bowling sensation is all set to walk onto the world stage at one of the world's premier venues.