BSS, Sylhet :
In the wake of huge criticism for his World Cup performance and uncertain future as cricketer, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza categorically said he is not here to prove anything or prove anyone wrong.
It is believed his place in the team will be entirely depended on his performance in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which starts today (Sunday) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
He said what is important for him to give his best for the victory of the team and he would continue to do that.
Despite being the most successful captain of the country and led country’s cricket to another height, Mashrafe was severely criticized for his performance in the World Cup in which he took just one wicket in eight matches.
He later missed the Bangladesh’s three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka just after the World Cup but critics continuously raise question about his place in the team. Even the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) indirectly forced him to retire from the cricket and at one point vowed to give him a befitting farewell. But Mashrafe remained unfazed by that and continue cricket.
He was given the chance to play the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, the first of Bangladesh’s in this format since July 2019 but the BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon indicated that it would be his last series as captain. He also said they would appoint a new captain, eyeing 2023 World Cup and Mashrafe would have to prove his performance to make him available in the team in ODI, the only format he is playing now.
While the criticism poured in from the BCB, the fans also blasted him in social media platform, creating an immense pressure on him.
But like a fighter Mashrafe remained adamant on his stance.
“I can’t give anyone a guarantee that I will perform. In fact no one in this world could guarantee about his performance. But what I can assure that, I will give my 100 percent-it’s the basic thing that whether a player could give his best,” Mashrafe said.
“The team management could raise the question that whether I have the dedication. If my dedication is questioned, I think I have to change myself. But no one can give a guarantee of performance. As I said earlier, I don’t play cricket to prove anything.”
He continued: “I am not fazed by the people who questioned about myself in the social media. If you say that I have to prove, sorry, I am not playing cricket to prove anything. I am playing for Bangladesh, and every player has the responsibility to make the team winning every game. Our responsibility is to give our best. I always try to give my best. But no one can give the assurance of the performance.”
