Nurul, Mushfiq to share keeping duties against New Zealand

Bangladesh wicket-keepers Nurul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim will split duties in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

A discussion was abound as to who will get to do the wicket-keeping job with Mushfiq returning to the fold having missed out the previous two T20I series – against Zimbabwe and Australia.

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo while speaking to the media at a virtual conference Monday informed of the interesting development in the dressing room.

According to Domingo, Nurul will get to keep wickets in the first two games, while Mushfiq will do the job in the third and fourth.

For the fifth, Domingo had a smile saying "the best of the two will get to do the job."

Such revelation came in as a surprise to a majority as the Bangladesh team management has backed Mushfiq as their No 1 wicket-keeper in ODIs and T20Is, despite questions raised regarding his keeping skills in the last few years.

In 86 T20Is, Mushfiq could not be behind the wickets in just four games.

Bangladesh had then found Liton Das for the job but with Nurul coming into the fold and performing well, there has been a change in the thinking process.

“[Nurul Hasan] Sohan will keep wicket in the first two games. The plan is to split wicket-keeping duties in this particular series, make it two games each and make a decision in the fifth game. I think it is important to have those options covered,” Domingo told the media.

Bangladesh will take on visitors New Zealand in the five-match series starting Wednesday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The remaining matches will be held at the same venue on September 3, 5, 8 and 10.