Young pace-bowler Mehedi Hasan Rana said he enjoys the rivalry with Mustafizur Rahman in the ongoing Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

He became the highest wicket-taker beating all the local and overseas bowlers with his sublime medium pace bowling though he was hugely neglected bowlers some days back.  

Even though both Rana and Mustafiz started their cricket career with age-level cricket, they played together Bangladesh Under-19, from where Mustafiz earned the call first from the national team.

Mustafiz stunned all with his mysterious cutter that was undiscovered for so long. But he lost his eclat after his surgical operation on his bowling shoulder. After being stayed in shaky form, he is improving his bowling slowly.

On the other hand, Rana is yet to get his stake from the national fold. His protracted injury kept him away from cricket for so long that prolonged his emergence. His talent was latent and so, he was unsold in the BPL Players’ Draft.

Mahmudullah Riyad and Imrul Kayes picked and backed him to flourish. He capitalise it in good manners showing his talent and mettle in the special BPL. He earned player-of-the-match award with his outstanding bowling show on his debut match.

“Yes, I am enjoying rivalry with him (Mustafiz), said Mehedi Hasan Rana, who was adjudged player of the match for the third time for his jaw-dropping bowling display.

“We were in same mould. Maybe I didn’t get opportunity in that way,” Rana told media at the post-match conference at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet yesterday.