Courageous Mujeeb Ur Rahman Draws High Praise from Brendon McCullum

Cricketnext Staff | Updated: January 6, 2019, 2:30 PM IST

Brisbane Heat were able to register their first win in the Big Bash League largely thanks to a fine performance by the Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman against the Perth Scorchers.

Brisbane, who opened their campaign with three defeats, chased down the target of 136 with ten balls to spare and five wickets in hand on Saturday.

Mujeeb proved to be the difference as he returned with figures of 2/10 in his four overs.

The teenager bowled 16 dot balls and dismissed Michael Klinger and Perth captain Mitch Marsh during his spell.

Brisbane captain Brendon McCullum praised Mujeeb for how he fit into the system since joining them.

He delivered 16 dot balls while having a man more than double his age, Michael Klinger, out stumped.

"He's really quiet but he's a great guy. I still find it incredibly courageous from him to fly the nest and come all the way over from Afghanistan to embed himself in a foreign environment for two months at his age," McCullum said.

"The performances he is putting up are deserving of his efforts and courage to do so. He's a great member of our side. He doesn't say a lot, but the boys enjoy him and obviously when he performs like that, it's certainly easier to get right in behind him."

Given his performances, he fits the cliché and makes the ball to do most of the talking.

"I'm very excited to be named Player of the Match. I'm very excited," Mujeeb said.

"I am really enjoying it very much. Australia is a country I'm very impressed by and my teammates, I am really enjoying everything about it."

Mujeeb is not the first teenage spinner making his mark this season in the Big Bash as Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane is turning out for the Melbourne Stars.

Sandeep, who also played in the IPL last season for the Delhi franchise, was a find for his side with eight wickets in four games before he left to play for Sylhet Sixers in the Bangladesh Premier League with David Warner.