Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo had said before the series that Mushfiqur Rahim and Nurul Hasan would share the wicketkeeping responsibility against New Zealand. Nurul kept wickets in the first two matches. Mushfiqur Rahim was scheduled to take charge in the third and fourth match. However, everyone was a little surprised to see the Bangladesh team before the start of the match on Sunday as Nurul Hasan still kept wickets.
Mushfiqur was not in the T20 squad for the Zimbabwe tour due to family problems. In his place, Nurul was in charge of wicketkeeping for the Bangladesh team. He did quite well in that series and also kept wickets in all the matches of the home series against Australia.
Mushfiqur is now back in the series against New Zealand. Naturally, the gloves of wicketkeeping should return to him. Nurul was also mentally ready for it. But before the series, Domingo said the two wicketkeeper-theories. He planned to keep Nurul in the first two matches and Mushfiqur in the third and fourth matches. Judging by their performance, one person will be given the responsibility in the fifth match.
“Sohan will keep wicket in the first two games,” Domingo said. “The plan is to split wicketkeeping duties in this particular series, make it two games each and make a decision in the fifth game. I think it is important to have those options covered.”
There is no doubt of Mushfiqur’s place in the Bangladesh team. His place at number four is fixed. But the fact of the matter is, Mushfiqur’s place as a wicketkeeper is now in jeopardy because of Nurul’s consistent performance behind the stumps. After seeing Nurul in wicketkeeping on Sunday, questions now arise, has the coach changed his mind or whether Mushfiqur withdrawn himself from the competition? Only time will tell.
