'Mushfiqur is a 360 degree player like AB de Villiers'

After leading Khulna Tigers to a fabulous five-wicket victory over Rajshahi Royals in a high-scoring affair, Mushfiqur Rahim was showered with enormous praise. Khulna Tigers head coach James Foster termed Mushfiqur a 360-degree player like South African great AB de Villiers. According to Foster, the diminutive batsman has the skill to hit the bowlers all around the park, playing all kinds of shot with minimum risk like de Villiers.

Mushfiqur today smashed 51 ball-96, clubbing nine fours and four sixes to help his side chase down Rajshahi's daunting 189-4 with ease. It was also his career-best T20 knock as Khulna reached 192-5 in 19.4 overs.

"Mushi is a highly-skilled player. He assessed the condition and situation and what's required against the bowlers that he came up against. He has got options, he is a 360-degree player. Last few years having played against him when I was with Khulna Titans, I saw he was very difficult to bowl at. Very powerful as well but he has got a tough game [in which he thrived], he is a complete package."

But when the term 360 degree is attached only with the player like AB de Villiers, the English coach did not exactly compare Mushfiqur to the Villiers but hinted the Khulna Tigers captain has the all ingredients like Villiers to torment the bowlers,
smashing them all around the park.

"I am just saying he is a 360 player, he is hitting all around the ground. He is a wonderful player, one the cricketers very difficult to bowl at," he said.

"You know there are cricketers who are strong hitting at deep midwicket, to mid-off. But Mushi is a player who can hit behind and straight but that doesn't come with luck, but with a lot of hard work and practice. This is my first involvement with Mushi and seeing him how he works, he is up there as one of the hard-working cricketers I have seen," he added.

"He used his skill, technique and method. Everyone has their own way of striking the ball but yes he has a God gifted talent. When guys missed their area, he is there to capitalize," he concluded.

By playing this knock, Mushfiqur stripped off Rajshahi's unbeaten tag and instead kept his side unbeaten after two matches in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL).

"It was a magnificent chase. I thought the way we went as a batting unit was exceptional. But it was based around a phenomenal innings from Mushi, he was the guy for us today," Foster said, adding that Mushfiqur's is one of the best T20 knocks he has ever seen.

"That was one of the best T20 innings I have seen. Especially being two down with not too many [runs] in the power play, that's a phenomenal innings. As a team, we are very delighted to be in this situation that we are in. It was a very good wicket but still a very good chase," he disclosed.

With the side two runs away for the victory, Mushfiqur got dismissed, trying to hit a boundary and could not reach his maiden T20 century. Foster said not finishing the game will not take the gloss off what he did.

"That was a great innings. As players and coaches, sometimes you don't see many innings like that. Mushi is a wonderful player and that was a match-winning innings," he concluded.