Only a day after being left out of the Bangladesh squad for the Pakistan T20Is, Mushfiqur Rahim has disputed the claim that he has been rested, reports https://www.espncricinfo.com.
Mushfiqur said he didn't "need rest" and told the team management he was available, but they took a collective decision to drop him.
"To be honest I haven't reached the stage when I have to tell someone that I need rest," Mushfiqur told a local TV channel on Wednesday. "I am definitely available. Why won't I be? I obviously had a disappointing World Cup. I needed an opportunity to bounce back. "I was asked if I was available, to which I said of course I am available. But I was told that the selection committee, team management, head coach and team director took a collective decision to drop me."
Two days ago, Minhajul Abedin, the chief selector, had insisted that Mushfiqur was "rested" because they needed him fresh for the two Tests against Pakistan after the three T20Is starting on Friday.
"We have four back-to-back Test matches against Pakistan and New Zealand," Minhajul had said. "He is a key player. He is one of our best players. Tamim Iqbal is already injured. He is in doubt for the Test series. We want our best player to give his best during the Test series, so after consulting extensively with the team management, we have decided to rest him. It is only for the Pakistan series. He will be available later."
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