Including Mustafizur in team was a bold move: Mashrafe

Mirpur (Bangladesh), June 19 (IANS) Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has said the decision to include pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the team for the first One-Day International (ODI) against India was a bold one.

And so, fortune smiled on the hosts, he said, following their clinical 79-run win over their neighbours at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Thursday, reports a news website.

To everyone's surprise, Bangladesh included four pacers in the line-up. Debutant Mustafizur came into the attack as the fourth seamer. The 19-year-old had a dream debut, running through India's batting line-up with a five-wicket haul.

Not only did the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, they also moved to seventh in ICC rankings overtaking the West Indies.

Mustafizur came into the team ahead of left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, who is a regular in the side.

"Sunny had been bowling very well. It was difficult to leave him out but we thought it is important to play Mustafizur. It was difficult to ignore him after seeing him in practice. We brought him in and got the result. It is true that fortune favours the brave," Mashrafe said.

The skipper said they had opted for four seamers to make room for Mustafizur.

"We’ve been playing with three pacers since I became captain because I believe it is the bowlers who win matches. I felt it would be tough playing against Mustafizur on this wicket. So we opted for four pacers. I am delighted that he did well," concluded Mashrafe.