Khaled Mahmud tees into Mustafizur Rahman over his reluctance to play Tests

Bangladesh Cricket Team's director Khaled Mahmud has come down hard on left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman regarding his reluctance to play Test cricket.

Mustafizur, who is currently plying his trade for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, recently told the Daily Star that he'd instead focus on the shortest formats to prolong his career.

However, Mahmud believes that Rahman has not yet achieved the status of senior players like Shakib Al Hasan or Tamim Iqbal and that he can be afforded the luxury to pick and choose formats.

"How old is Mustafizur? How long has he been playing cricket? He is not like Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur or Mashrafe, who have given their service to the national team in all three formats for a number of years. It is important to play for the country," Mahmud told the media, as quoted by the Daily Star.

Mahmud further added that Mustafizur is the best fast bowler in the country, and given his skills, he'll be as lethal in Test cricket as he has been in the shorter formats.

"I want Mustafizur to play Tests for Bangladesh. Considering his technical and tactical aspects, he is the best pacer we have got. He is a dangerous pacer in the white-ball format, but I believe he can be a dangerous bowler in red-ball cricket as well," he added.

Mustafizur doesn't have a red-ball contract and has not been picked for the first Test against Sri Lanka as he is busy with the IPL.

Previously, Nazmul Hassan Papon had said that BCB would allow players to pick and choose formats if a player informs them beforehand.

However, Khaled clarified that Papon's statement had come with 'terms and conditions', and if the BCB wants Mustafizur in the Test series, then he'll have to adhere to it.

"When [Nazmul Hassan] Papon Bhai said that players can discuss with the board which format they would want to play, he only meant for the senior players and not for everyone. Now, if [Mahmudul Hasan] Joy says that he would only play ODIs and won't play Tests anymore, how will that work?" said the former cricketer.

He signed off by stating that Mustafizur is in the prime of his career, and he should play as much as he can in all three formats.

"The likes of Shakib and Tamim are in their mid-30s. They need breaks. They deserve it. But, for example, Liton Das does not deserve rest. So, I think Mustafizur must play Tests. This is his peak time. We are not saying that he must play all the Tests, but I would like to see him play 6-8 Tests in a year," 

Since making his debut in 2015, Mustafizur has thus far featured in just 14 Tests, in which he has claimed 30 wickets with an average of 36.73. He last played a Test in 2021 against the West Indies on home soil.