(Sports)Feature: In Mustafizur Rahman, cricket world sees birth of new pacer

The huge crowd at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur were surprised when Bangladesh's captain Mashrafee handed the ball to Mustafizur Rahman to bowl in the first over.

It was particularly surprising because the Tigers had three regular pacers in the team. But Bangladesh's captain wanted to give his opponents a surprise through youngster Rahman who hails from a remote area, far removed from the major cities in Bangladesh.

His ploy was successful. Bangladesh won the match against mighty India comfortably and Bangladesh saw the birth of a new star -- Rahman.

The pacer bagged so many achievements on his first appearance in the ODI. He bowled five wickets and was judged man of the match. Nobody could guess that Rahman would bring such a moment for the nation to celebrate, and in such a magical way.

After the match, he did not forget to recall his brother -- Mokhlesur Rahman -- who used to take him to Sathkhira, 230 km southwest of Dhaka, on a 40 km motorbike ride each winter morning, for practice. He did not even know Satkhira so well when his brother used to take him there every morning at age seven. His brother was the first person who came to mind, Rahman said after the match.

The hero also remembered all his other family members who encouraged him to be a cricketer.

When he was invited on the podium to talk, he could say nothing. He was feeling very shy. Mashrafee was standing beside him, although it was this shy, slim man who had just obliterated the visiting Indians.

Fellow players surrounded him after the match and tried to pick him up, jump on his shoulder and even hug and kiss him. Captain Mashrafe Mortaza went as far as to kiss him all over his face when Bangladesh sealed the 79-run win, to which Rahman smiled innocently.

The prodigy started off his career as a batsman while playing with a tennis ball in his hometown, where as a youngster he was advised to start bowling fast. The supports from his family has always been there and his family took his eagerness seriously.

He was picked up for under-17 tournaments before he was called up to a pace-bowling camp in Dhaka. Gradually he turned into a known face and one day was asked to bowl in the under-19 nets.

Chief selector Faruque Ahmed was also impressed by the young pacer. He did not think twice to pick him up for Bangladesh A's tour to the West Indies last year. Khulna Division then gave him a first-class debut in the 2013-14 domestic season.

His debut in the T20 against Pakistan was also meaningful and he finished with figures of 2 for 20 in four overs, including the wickets of Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez. That performance encouraged the team management to think seriously about Rahman for ODI.

He had the opportunity to play for Abahani Limited, Bangladesh Under-19s, Khulna Division, South Zone (Bangladesh).

He bagged the wickets of RG Sharma, AM Rahane, SK Raina, RA Jadeja and R Ashwin in the match against India spending 50 runs in his 9.2 overs with 1 maiden.

This cricketer seems likely to be able to serve Bangladesh for the long term, although will benefit from further nurturing. No doubt he will go on to achieve great things and his smile will become known to the world. Endi