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Former skipper Mushfiqur Rahim said he is well aware that he is not an automatic choice in the Test side anymore and is willing to perform with the bat to keep his place in the side.
Mushfiqur, who had been serving as the Test skipper since 2011, was replaced by Shakib Al Hasan as the Bangladesh Cricket Board wanted to relieve the former of additional responsibilities so that they could get the most out of him as a batsman. Mushfiqur was also relieved from keeping wickets in Tests as the team management was inclined to keep him as fresh as possible for batting, given that he has a crucial role as Bangladesh look to make the most in their resurgent phase.
Mushfiqur admitted that there was the pressure of leading the national team earlier, but now there is the pressure of another kind - to perform on a regular basis as a batsman as he is not an automatic choice in the team anymore.
"There's always pressure, but as a captain, I was an automatic choice," Mushfiqur told reporters on Tuesday. "I scored (at times) while being the captain and wicketkeeper, and I even got out for a duck (at times). Now as a top-order batsman, I have to perform (on a regular basis).
"I had three jobs (earlier) and now I have one job. I always try to perform my responsibilities to the best of my ability. I tried to give my best in the last game. I was unlucky in the second innings (to get out early), the ball wasn't that great. I will keep trying, and get more runs in the next game."
Mushfiqur showed signs of maturity by accepting the fact that he is no longer considered to keep wickets in the longer version cricket, which was not the case earlier. On several occasions in the past, he had showed his disgust over losing his role behind the wicket, stating that it had helped him immensely to get a better view of the pitch and that proved beneficial when he batted.
However, he had to be replaced as he had developed a tendency of making crucial mistakes as a 'keeper which was costing Bangladesh heavily. Former head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe was clearly unhappy with his wicketkeeping in Tests and had stripped him of the duty for three Tests in 2015. Liton Das had replaced Mushfiqur behind the stumps against India at Fatullah that year and did a fairly good job to retain his place in the two Tests against South Africa. Liton, however, lost his form later and was dropped from the team for the series against England and New Zealand, which allowed Mushfiqur to regain the confidence of the coach and return as wicketkeeper.
It did not help the team much, especially during the first Test in New Zealand when he injured his finger and had struggled to bat before he was eventually ruled out of the second Test. However thereafter, he has made peace with the fact that, for the best interest of the team, he will have to give up his role as a 'keeper.
"I always enjoy fielding," he said. "Keeping wickets, of course, gives you a better perspective, especially about the wicket."
"But I am happy. Liton is batting and keeping well and I think he can serve Bangladesh cricket for 8-10 years," he said regarding Liton, who played a big role with Mominul Haque to help Bangladesh earn a fighting draw in the first Test against Sri Lanka by putting on a 180-run fourth-wicket stand.
Mushfiqur added that the think-tank is aware of slip catchers' scarcity in the team but he is not willing to attempt playing that role to keep his injured fingers safe from further damage. "We don't have genuine slip fielders. We are aware of it," he said. "Two of my ten fingers are damaged, so fielding in the slips is difficult for me. It becomes hard fielding over there without much confidence."
(CRICBUZZ)
