ZCZC
BSP-12
CRICKET-MASHRAFE-FIGHTER
Mashrafe is not the person to back out from any challenge: Papon
DHAKA, March 8, 2020 (BSS)-Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president
Nazmul Hassan Papon believes Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will make his way to the
national team as a general player if he really wants to play the ODI cricket,
an only format currently he is playing.
Papon said he in fact won’t be surprised if he sees Mashrafe to make the
cut in the national team, considering the stubborn personality he possess.
Mashrafe of late stepped down from the ODI captaincy but insisted that
he wants to continue the cricket as a player.
“Age is a factor but if he wants to play cricket, I will say ‘welcome’.
But he has to compete like others to make the cut in the national team,”
Papon said here on Sunday, while he announced Tamim Iqbal as the captain in
ODI format, replacing Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
“I am sure that he doesn’t think himself hundred percent fit at the
moment. But he is very stubborn. He is not the person to back out from
anything. If he thinks, he will play the cricket, I won’t be surprised. After
sometimes, you will see him to back in the national team as the best bowler,
if he thinks he will play again. And I won’t be surprised.”
After his first stint as captain was cut short by perennial injury,
Mashrafe was given captaincy again in 2014. Under his captaincy, the
cricketing renaissance of the country actually kick-started as Bangladesh
established them as the true giant of the World cricket in ODI format.
Papon said Mashrafe has done his job as captain excellently but at this
moment, it is tough for the board to exactly tell if he continues cricket as
bowler.
“We think Mashrafe shouldn’t be dragged out in this matter. He was made
captain in 2014 for a special reason. He was not in the squad. But for a
reason he was made captain, bringing him from outside of the squad. We had
full trust on him and so he was made captain. He has done his job
excellently. It was not possible to achieve such immense success without
him.”
BSS/SMP/BZC/2050RS