FUTURE AMBITIONS

Rahim - The Trapeze Artist

by Atif Azam • Last updated on

"Definitely (it is tough) to balance both cricket and studies" - Rahim © Getty

Mushfiqur Rahim is symbol of discipline, cricket or otherwise.

For regular visitors at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium it doesn't come as a surprise to see Rahim arriving at the ground earlier than his team-mates and leaving much after everyone else - he's a stickler when it comes to his cricketing preparations. But he's also one off the field.

While maintaining this routine for almost his entire career, it's quite a balancing act that Rahim manages considering his off-field pursuits. According to his team-mates Rahim, who has opted for a course of MPhil (Masters in Philosophy) and is targeting a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), carried text books during tours and while most of the players opted to spend their leisure time with different activities, Rahim opted to stay back at the hotel to keep up to speed with his text book syllabus.

Rahim, who joined BKSP (the national sports institute of Bangladesh) to pursue a career in cricket, remained reluctant just to bank on his game alone. As a result, despite earning a Masters in History from Jahangirnagar University, he is eyeing a PHD in South Asian Cricket. This is a dream that he has treasured for long time and to fulfil it, he is willing to sacrifice a lot of things. It takes some doing to bring about this balance, and it's a balance of his two big loves - cricket and education.

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While his team-mates are enjoying a break after the World Cup, Rahim has been studying for at least four hours a day just to make sure he crosses the hurdle of MPhil, a prerequisite for applying for a PhD. And that he's resumed studies after a gap of four years after finishing his Masters, makes it all the more tougher.

"Definitely (it is tough) to balance both cricket and studies," Rahim told Cricbuzz after batting for hours in the nets as part of his preparations for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. "It's been more than four years I have finished my masters. Now I am a father too. So, sometimes when I'm reading, my son comes to play with me wanting to spend time with me and he complains if I don't give him the attention.

"So I have to manage everything and it is quite challenging, a different kind of challenge now. You get different challenges at different phases of time. I had some different challenges five years back and now I have a different form of challenge. So far, I am trying to manage everything together," he said.

"So far it is going good. I have final exams on 18th this month and another one on August 4. My target is to start the PhD as early as possible after completing my MPhil. My target is to set an example. (PHD) on South Asian Cricket History as I am a cricketer. I have practical experience on the field as a cricketer. So, if I can do something which is related to cricket, I think, it will help me a lot. That's why I picked this subject. Normally, it takes around two and half years (to complete PHD). You have to submit a thesis."

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While there is pressure of studies, it hasn't impacted Rahim the cricketer, although he did acknowledge that he is at the last leg of his career and wants to make some memorable contributions to sign off on a high. And to do that, Rahim believes it is time for him to move up the batting order.

"If you see the best batsmen list at number four currently, I think I will be at second (after Ross Taylor in this World Cup). So it is a big satisfaction. It also inspires me to do more hard work to achieve more success and face more challenges. And also prepare myself better to face more challenges. So whatever I have done, I am happy, but not as much as I expected but yes, I contributed in some matches that helped our team achieve victory.

"I'm not growing any younger, so I will try play in a way that I will have more impact. To be honest, I am in the last phase, so I don't have any time to relax. After playing cricket for 10-15 years now, it is high time to take my game to the next level - like playing a match-winning innings and not just a 50 or 60. I have gained that belief [to take my game to the next level] because when you perform against a strong attack, in tough conditions, you gain that."

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In Bangladesh cricket, there have been comparisons between Rahim and Tamim as to who's the better cricketer. And those talks inspire both these cricketers to try and better each other. "Yes, definitely, we have that competition of beating each other. So the amount of runs that Tamim has made, if I can do the same, then definitely it will be a huge contribution for Bangladesh cricket. If I do, I can win Bangladesh many matches alone. And the way Shakib was batting (in the World Cup), if he continues in the same form, it will be better for both him and our team. And young players like Soumya and Liton, if they become more consistent, it will be better for the team and them," says Rahim, as he gushes in pride about the strength of Bangladesh cricket.

With 367 runs in the World Cup, Rahim finished as the second highest run-getter for his team in the tournament. Although, he did mention that time isn't essentially his friend at the moment, Rahim hasn't ruled out a role for Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup. But, he wants to take it a match and a series at a time.

"Definitely, I have a big plan, but I like to think series-by-series. And I prepare according to that and also practice according to that. When you will think series by series, it will help to keep your form. If you think so far, it becomes tough to maintain the consistency. We have to think slot-by-slot, but at the end of the day, it's far away. But it is my goal - to play 2023 World Cup."

© Cricbuzz

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