-- New -- Mominul has a big future: Phil Mustard

Mominul has a big future: Phil Mustard








Question: What are your thoughts on the local cricketers of the BPL?
Phil Mustard (PM): I think the local cricketers that we have got at Barisal Burners, we got some real talent coming through. Obviously, you guys have some good left-armers (spinners). We have got Shuvo (Sohrawardi) and Apu (Nazmul) in our team. What I have seen in the last week or so, obviously you have Shakib (Al Hasan), everyone knows about him. You have got Sunny (Elias) from Dhaka (Gladiators) who is a pretty good bowler as well. You guys have some very good young talent here. I just think you guys need to put something in place for the young talents to improve. I think we have not seen too much of the batters. They will work on it but I think we have got a very good one at Barisal, young left-hander Mominul (Haque), he is looking like a very good player. I think he has got a big future.

Q: Overall, how you would rate the quality of cricket on show at the tournament?
PM: I think it is the same as anywhere you go around the world. Obviously, I think the quality improves when you bring in overseas players. All this time, I think with the financial condition of the BPL, they can improve with the tournament. Bringing in the overseas guys to help these young guys, I think it is good for Bangladesh cricket.

Q: How can the tournament improve in the upcoming years?
PM: I think as a whole, obviously, they have rushed into things a little bit. I think if they had four or five weeks to organize it, they could have pulled it off. They will learn from the mistakes that happened over the past couple of weeks. Obviously the traffic can improve. And everyone can look forward for next year. Hopefully, I will find it a little bit better over a longer period next year. Hopefully the next years will be better.

Q: On a personal level, how have you enjoyed the tournament?
PM: Yes, I have really enjoyed it. Obviously, I have not played any overseas cricket lately because in the English summer, there is nothing else I can do but it has been a great experience. I have been around the up-and-coming Bangladeshi players. I have been around some world class internationals, so, obviously I have enjoyed the tournament and hopefully it carries on like this.

Q: What are your thoughts before the big final?
PM: Obviously, we will be playing in front of a massive crowd because Dhaka's up there (final opponents) and they (crowd) are their home crowd. Obviously, you have got the likes of the Pakistan guys (Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal) coming in, which will be good. But I think we have got the same team playing throughout. We lost Harwood (Shane) early on so we got Kabir Ali. So I think we are ahead of them at the moment. We have got a squad that we have stuck with, did not change anything. I think it is hard to say well if bringing in these big guns like Afridi and Ajmal will work, will they fit into their team spirit? For me, I do not think they can.