Dhaka – Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, one of the most popular sportspersons the country has ever produced, is close to retirement after an 18-year career frequently plagued by injuries. Talks about his departure from cricket grew after a dismal show in the World Cup where he managed to take only one wicket. It is believed that he played the tournament with a hamstring injury.
Poor individual and team performance prompted Mashrafe’s critics to call for his retirement. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also aware of the matter but said it is yet to finalise a plan to bid farewell to one of the best Bangladeshi cricketers of all time.
“We’re yet to get a final instruction (from the board). As far as I know (Mashrafe’s last match will be held) in the proposed tri-series,” Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, BCB’s Chief Executive Officer, told the media on Tuesday.
During the World Cup, BCB boss Nazmul Hasan also said the board is planning to organise an ODI series to set the platform for Masrhafe’s farewell. He said Mashrafe deserves a big farewell as he is one of the most celebrated cricketers of the country.
Mashrafe also joined politics recently. He contested the last national election from the ruling Awami League and won by a big margin from his constituency.
The right-arm pacer kicked off his career in 2001 against Zimbabwe in a Test match. In the same series, he got his ODI cap as well.
The 36-year-old played his last Test back in 2009 against West Indies at Kingstown. He never returned to Tests due to injuries. Mashrafe played 36 Tests in which he took 78 wickets. In his 217 ODIs till date, he took 266 wickets.UNB
