Mustafizur Rahman signs with Melbourne Renegades for BBL debut
Mustafizur Rahman will make his Big Bash League debut for Melbourne Renegades after replacing injured Jason Behrendorff. The 31-year-old has taken 423 wickets in 331 T20 matches and will play his first game at the MCG on January 1.
Melbourne Renegades signed Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Jason Behrendorff ahead of the Big Bash League season. The 31-year-old Bangladesh left-arm pacer will make his first BBL appearance after missing the opener because of ILT20 commitments. He is expected to play for the Renegades at the MCG on January 1 against Sydney Sixers and on January 4 against Melbourne Stars.
Rahman has played 331 T20 matches and taken 423 wickets across his career. He has appeared in 271 international matches across formats and has taken 121 wickets in nine Bangladesh Premier League seasons. He played five matches in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and took 3 for 27 against Australia in an ODI in Mirpur in June.
Rahman becomes the third Bangladesh player to feature in the BBL. The Renegades have filled 16 of 18 roster spots and have Jonny Bairstow and Michael Bracewell as overseas players. Jason Behrendorff will miss the season after shoulder surgery. Haris Rauf signed with Adelaide Strikers after leaving Melbourne Stars.
CricHubb Take
The move gives the Renegades a proven death bowler at a time when Australian franchises are turning to overseas pacers to cover for injuries to local fast bowlers. Rahman's record in Australian conditions and his experience in the 2022 T20 World Cup make him a direct replacement for Behrendorff's left-arm angle.