ZCZC
BSP-10
CRICKET-RETIRE-CAPTAINCY
Mashrafe steps down as Bangladesh captain
SYLEHT, March 5, 2020 (BSS)- Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has stepped down from
the captaincy of Bangladesh ODI format, the lone format he is currently
playing, stating that the third and final match of ODI series against
Zimbabwe tomorrow (Friday) will be his last as the captain.
He however said he is willing to play cricket as a general cricketer if
the team management considers him in the national team.
The captain, who has inspired millions, made his decision public during
a press conference on Thursday.
Mashrafe had previously said the decision to retire should be left up to
him and if the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asks him to let go of the
captaincy, he will do so.
But now, he, all by himself, left the captaincy, ending an itchy
situation hovering over the cricket fraternity for the last several months.
“Thanks to all. I want to say something before you. As captain,
tomorrow’s match will be my last. I want to thank the Bangladesh Cricket
Board (BCB) to keep faith on me for such long period. I want to thank all the
cricketers who played under my leadership. I am sure the process was not
easier. It was a journey of 5/6 years. I want to thank the team management
under whose guidance I have played and I have led the side. Everyone helps
me. My captaincy began under the stint of Chandika Hathurusingha. Before that
I was captain but couldn’t continue due to injury. So the fresh start of
captaincy began under Hathurusingha, then Khaled Mahmud Sujon, Steve Rhodes
and now I am going to end it under Russell Domingo. I further want to thank
the selectors, board staffs, media and of course the fans. It was not
possible without your co-operation. I am Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, has stepped
down from the captaincy. I will try to give my best as player if the board
gives me the opportunity. I will have the best wishes for the next captain. I
will try to help him with the amount of experience I have gained after
playing cricket for so many years. Thank you all again,” Mashrafe reads out a
written statement as he announced the decision.
He said before coming here, he let the decision know his family who gave
him the strong support and also informed the BCB president Nazmul Hassan
Papon about his decision.
“After waking up in the morning, I felt, I should not continue as
captain. Then I informed the decision to my family. I talked to them and they
gave me the all out support. I also talked to Papon bhai before coming here,”
he said.
Dubbed as the most inspirational captain of the country, Mashrafe said,
the decision came from the fact that the new captain should be given time to
build a team for the 2023 World Cup.
He also said that the board should be strict with the decision that they
would continue with same captain to build a team for 2023 World Cup and
should not change him.
“I felt the new captain should be given enough time to build a team. BCB
should be strict in this case. If they give someone captaincy but change him
after one year, then it should not be good. The new captain should give the
long run and so the board should think about it carefully before taking any
decision,” he said.
At this moment, Mashrafe however thinks, instead of any junior player, a
senior player should be given the captaincy.
“Apart from Shakib, I think there are three senior cricketers who led
the side in the past in on and off. The board knows better who they want to
give the captaincy. The board will take the eventual decision. But if you
want to know my opinion, I will say, the senior players are better to lead
the team at this moment because they have the experience to lead the side in
on and off. Now it’s up to the board entirely,” he remarked.
BSS/SMP/IJ/1726 hrs