Mustafizur Rahman eyeing IPL contract

Mustafizur Rahman during a training session in Mirpur yesterday

Kolkata: After mauling India in the ongoing ODI series, Bangladesh's top pacer Mustafizur Rahman is now keen to bag a lucrative Indian Premier League contract in the multi-million dollar Twenty20 tournament's next edition.


Mustafizur Rahman during a training session in Mirpur yesterday. Pic/AFP

The 19-year-old medium-pacer has been Bangladesh's wrecker-in-chief in the first two ODIs against India claiming 11 wickets to help the hosts win their first bilateral series against the Men in Blue, having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

It is learnt that Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has requested India's limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to look for a franchise, who will be interested in picking Rahman at next season's auction. Chennai Super Kings captain Dhoni, replying in the affirmative, said that he "will try" to get the young pacer an IPL team.

Meanwhile, Rahman was also a significant point of discussion at yesterday's press conference on the eve of today's third ODI between India and Bangladesh.

When Ravichandran Ashwin was asked how they planned to counter Rahman, the off-spinner Ashwin gave a rather tongue-in-cheek reply, saying: "There isn't a counter as such. I mean what can we do? Can we kidnap him (Mustafizur)? See it's not media news. It's international cricket.

"Everybody is a professional to analyse what needs to be done." Ashwin further warned that the left-arm seamer would be a watched closely hereon.

"He is a good bowler, you cannot deny what he has done or take the respect away from him. I am also happy for him, but I think the challenge starts here for him. As an international cricketer, I know it much better than anybody else. Now, people are going to watch out for him," he said.