Published: Jul 13, 2016, 09:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 13, 2016, 09:39 PM (IST)
Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s mach-awaited Sussex debut seems to have taken a hit as he has not received his visa yet. Mustafizur could not leave for England on July 13, like he had planned, which means that he will miss his scheduled debut for Sussex on July 15 against Hampshire. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) says that Mustafizur’s visa will arrive any day and he will fly out immediately after it arrives. As a result, Mustafizur now aims to make his debut in the Natwest T20 Blast on July 21, according to espncricinfo.com. Mustafizur has already missed most of his Sussex season due to injury following the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, where he won the title with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). READ: Mustafizur Rahman awaits visa as he prepares to travel to Sussex
Mustafizur will now be able to play a maximum of just seven matches, if everything goes to play from here. Mustafizur is likely to return home in the first week of August as Sussex’s last pool phase match in the One-Day Cup is set for August 2. READ: Mustafizur Rahman cleared to play for Sussex
Sussex were hoping to have Mustafizur when they take on Hampshire in their backyard, Hove, on July 15. Forced to wait for Mustafizur for an extended period of time, Sussex have roped in Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara as a replacement. READ: Mustafizur Rahman’s rehabilitation delays Sussex stint
Media Committee Chairman Jalal Yunus on July 1 had said the youngster had applied for visa. “Our medical team has informed us his [Mustafizur] rehabilitation went well and he is fine now – he is bowling in the nets,” Yunus was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com. “He will keep improving in the coming days. If he gets visa, he will head for England on Jul 12 or 13,” Yunus added.
(With inputs from AFP)
