DHAKA, July 3, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes insisted that at the moment he didn’t see any bowler capable to replace Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in the national team.
His comment came at the moment when Mashrafe’s form raised a concern over the justification of his place in the playing XI.
Mashrafe, also the captain of the team, claimed just one wicket from seven matches and his announcement to play beyond the World Cup at the midst of the tournament did not go well with the public in general.
Whether Mashrafe decides to make a decision soon or Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) take some other routes to give him a well deserved farewell is matter for the future, but according to Rhodes there are lots of pros and cons attached with it.
”First, this situation with the board and all this talk that’s been going on for the last two weeks or so, that really is questions for the board and questions for Mash to answer. I can’t really answer that,” Rhodes told reporters when his attention was drawn regarding the retirement plan of the legendary cricketer.
”We’ve also got to have a bowler good enough, capable enough to actually replace Mash. Everybody forgets that. We haven’t got too many of the taller, quicker bowlers, which is what we’re trying to get into test matches. As soon as we find them and as soon as they’re starting to do well, I’m sure that we’ll want to get them in the team,” he said.
Another thing that raised criticism Mashrafe withdrew him from bowling after first over. He later came back in the middle order but didn’t bowl for his full 10 overs quota as returned figures of 5-0-36-0.
But Rhodes defended his decision not to bowl after the first over, stating that it was a brave decision unlike how it is projected in the media that suggest that he was not having confidence on his own self.
Rhodes also said that Mashrafe will be disappointed of not performing well in the tournament.
”Well, I’m sure Mash would be a little disappointed with that first over, but I actually thought it was a very brave decision to do to take himself off. Sometimes as a captain, when somebody has a bad over, it’s still a brave decision to take them off. To take yourself off is even braver, I felt, especially as the first over of the game,” said Rhodes.
”But he did come back, and bowl better. So he did show that he was clawing his way back. Mash is a very proud person, and I’m sure Mash will look at his performances so far and wish they were a little bit better, but having said that — and it’s important that you do quote this second part as well — is that he’s tried his hardest all the way through. The one thing about Mash is that he tries every single ball. He doesn’t know any other way,” he said.
”He’s had seven knee operations, and he’s had a fantastic, wonderful career of over 200 ODIs, and he has not stopped trying throughout all of those ODIs, I know that,” he concluded.