DHAKA — Bangladesh's teenage fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been rewarded for his strong limited overs performances with a call-up to the squad for next week's first Test against South Africa. The 19-year-old left-arm paceman made his international debut in the three-match series against two-time world champion India in June and his 13 wickets meant Bangladesh won its first series against its neighbor.
Mustafizur stunned the top Indian batsmen with his control and change of pace, winning the man-of-the-series award, and Sunday it was the South Africans who found themselves on the receiving end in their second ODI.
He took 3-38 as South Africa was bundled out for 162, its lowest score against the host. Bangladesh went on to thrash the tourists by seven wickets and level the series at 1-1.
Mustafizur will replace Abul Hasan in the squad that was named for last month's drawn Test against India.
“He (Mustafizur) has shown already what he is capable of and possibly he has been the brightest find for us in recent times,” Bangladesh chairman of selectors Faruque Ahmed said.
“He has also been playing all versions of cricket this season including four day games and we are confident that he will adjust quickly to the demands of test cricket.
“His inclusion means that Abul Hasan has to miss out from the squad that we had in our last test but Mustafizur deserves his call.”
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mahmudullah, who missed the India series with a finger injury, replaced Shuvagata Hom as the only other change in the squad.
The first Test is in Chittagong from July 21 before the second and final match in Mirpur begins on July 30.
Test squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Shahid and Mustafizur Rahman.
Rossouw fined for Tamim contact
South African batsman Rilee Rossouw has been fined 50 percent of his match fee for a code of conduct breach during a One-Day International against Bangladesh, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Monday.
Rossouw, 25, was found to have been involved in a shoulder barge with Bangladesh's opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, who was walking back after being dismissed during Sunday's second international in Dhaka.
Rossouw pleaded guilty over charges of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact” laid by match referee David Boon and he accepted the penalty, the ICC said in a statement.
The amount that Rossouw has to pay was not made known.
Samson replaces injured Rayudu
In-form batsman Ambati Rayudu has been ruled out of the remainder of India's tour of Zimbabwe with a muscle injury, the country's cricket board (BCCI) said Monday.
Rayudu, 29, scored an unbeaten 124 in the first ODI against Zimbabwe and followed it up with a 41 in the second match, during which he sustained the injury.
“Rayudu pulled his right quadriceps muscles and will require 2-3 weeks of rehabilitation,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Uncapped Sanju Samson, 20, will replace Rayudu for the third and final ODI and the two subsequent Twenty20 matches.
India is 2-0 ahead in the three-match series, with the final ODI Tuesday. — Agencies
