Age Is Just Number- Mushfiqur Urges To Focus On Fitness And Form

Fortune Barishal’s Mushfiqur Rahim played some crucial knock in the group phase that includes 39-ball 68 against Khulna Tigers and 44-ball 63 against Comilla Victorians earlier during the tournament while on Wednesday during their do-or-die match against Rangpur Riders he made 38-ball 47 to take his team over the line. 

Mushfiqur, who struck an unbeaten 47 off 38 balls to help Fortune Barisal book their berth in the BPL final, is currently the fifth-highest run-getter in BPL making 367 runs at an average of 33.36 and a strike-rate of 123.56.

Mushfiqur did not shy away from showing disappointment as many criticized Fortune Barisal for including cricketers like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and him as critics pointed fingers on their tired legs.

“At the start of the tournament everyone said Barisal is a team of old guys and T20 cannot be played with experience and so here we are. This concept is very wrong and experiences have value in every format and that is the rule of the world,” Mushfiqur told reporters at the post match press conference while added that he doesn’t get motivated after being criticized for his age.

“It does not motivate me (being criticized for my age) and I feel bad about it. Even today if you bring lot of young players in front of me I am sure they will not be near me in front of my fitness and I can write it down,” he said.

“How will you give criterion to fitness whether it is age and performance? I feel it should be fitness and performance considering age is just a number otherwise player’s like Jimmy Anderson would have been rare,” he said.

“I don’t play to prove anyone and those who have picked me I am thankful to them like Tamim and owner of Barisal and I want to repay back their faith through my performance,” he added.