Mustafiz not ready for Test cricket: Domingo

Bangladesh national team head coach Russell Domingo has confirmed that Mustafiz will not take part in their Test against Zimbabwe starting from Saturday. 

In the pre-match press conference at Mirpur, Domingo said that according to him Mustafiz is not ready to play Test cricket yet and he will be with the squad to get ready for the format. 

" Mustafiz is not playing this Test. He is not playing in the next five days. He is going to be bowling every day, trying to get some shape that is required to benefit him in Test match cricket and white-ball cricket," Domingo said. 

Domingo further added, "He (Mustafiz) was put back into the squad not to play in my opinion. But very much to train, to get the shape back into the right-hander, to build a connection with Ottis, to develop a bit of trust, a bit of relationship. Mustafiz is going to stay with the team. At the moment, I can't see him playing Test cricket and I have told him that. Until he makes sure he improves technically and gets the ball to swing back into the right-hander."

Domingo also said that getting Mustafizur back in the squad was the start of the process to get him ready for Test cricket. 

"I know there has been a bit of miscommunication regarding the Mustafizur situation. I don't think Mustafizur is ready to play Test cricket. There is some technical work that needs to be done that allows him to swing the ball back into the right-handed batsman. Getting him back into the squad is the start of that process. So that he can spend some time with our new bowling coach, Ottis Gibson," the South African said. 

Domingo also said that there will be two seamers in the lineup against Zimbabwe. With Mustafiz being confirmed to be omitted and Hasan Mahmud apparently sent back to Chattogram to play in the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), it is likely that Abu Jayed Rahi and Ebadot Hossain will be the ones to play.