It can be said undoubtedly that, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is the most successful captain Bangladesh Cricket ever had. Even after numerous amount of surgeries, he kept playing for Bangladesh, which inspired the entire team.
If Cricket has put Bangladesh strongly on world map Mashrafe alone has contributed a lot of it. Ignoring his major physical constraint arising from 7 major surgery on his knees and risking his physically handicapped future he has led Bangladesh Cricket to an enviable level in the shortest version of the game. Bangladesh is a potent force to reckon with it. As a player, he remains automatic choice as premier pace bowler despite having Mustafiz, Taskin, and Mustafiz. None has immaculate control like Mash. His very presence in the field and in the dressing room inspires all players. A player contributing 100% of his commitment for the team deserves due recognition and support.
Unfortunately, at the stage of the last T20, he fractured his finger trying to stop a drive of New Zealand Batsman which would keep him out of cricket for 6-8 weeks. As soon as that happened responsible senior policy makers told a section of media about his presumed retirement from T20. Later the same person dismissed it mentioning it as gossip. Mashrafe is not a person in Bangladesh cricket to be talked about such irresponsible. To adoring Bangladeshis Mashrafe to Bangladesh is what iconic Tendulkar was to India. He is one of the best fast bowler ever produced. If the injury did not appear as curse he could be a top all-rounder. As a captain, he has lifted Bangladesh from a rock bottom to great height. He is definitely the best captain Bangladesh ever produced and among the top in the world.As a leader, he inspires all always. An unassuming Mashrafe is a true cricketer with great humor and good ethics. Let him decide when he chooses to retire.
Mashrafe Mortaza is injured again…and in other news, grass is green #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/Qaa0NdWeN0
— Cricket Humour (@Geniuscricket6) January 8, 2017
Bangladesh lost both ODI and T20 series comprehensively in New Zealand tour. Mashrafe played in all matches and did his best. Even in the last T20 good opportunities were created in his bowling. If top two cricketers Tamim and Shakib did not floor those the fate of the match could be different. We all know by now Bangladesh could not exploit the opportunities they created. The team could not put together comprehensive performance and fell apart at crunch moments. Unlike many previous occasion Tamim, Shakib, Mahmudullah could not produce match winning performances. Fielding was atrocious. Catches and ground fielding were terribly poor. In fielding alone, the difference was 40-50 runs in all matches. We are also not very sure if Mashrafe was given the team he wanted or how much independent he was in setting batting order.
We know Bangladesh team management has several ifs and buts. But when the team wins all these remains buried under the surface. I am sure every past captain would agree on the challenges of leading rank underdogs teams in international cricket.
Mashrafe will take the final decision when he comes back to Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/ri1NWv76ap
— Firoz KM (@KMFiroz4) January 9, 2017
Bangladesh has no limited over international matches in the next two months. Let Mashrafe assess the extent of his injury, get treatment, recover and rehabilitate. To us, he still has two to three years’ quality cricket in him to represent Bangladesh. Please leave him on his own and take his own decision to retire. Hope that he fades out gloriously like a gladiator exiting the colosseum in front of his own adoring followers.
Photo: bdcricteam
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