The 32-year-old captain of Bangladesh, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza enjoys a demigod stature in Bangladesh cricket, gave a hint that he may retire from the international cricket at the end of the year talking yesterday to the Indian journalists at Sher-e Bangla Stadium.A man who has shown Herculean efforts coming back thrice severe knee injuries defying all odds finally now realizes it would not be possible to carry on more loads for longer period.When asked whether he has set any targets like playing the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy or 2018 World T20, Mashrafe said that he would not like to stick around for that long.”I don’t think so. One thing is for sure, I will not be playing for a long time. By the grace of Almighty, if I am fit, then I intend to play this whole 2016. After that I don’t think there is any big global event for a long time.”Mashrafe said he always was person who believes on its instinct. “But from a very young age, I have been an instinctive person. I have never ever treaded the usual fixed path. I live for the moment. Yes, whenever I take the big decision, my teammates will know about it before my family as it is a cricketing decision. When I take any decision, will make sure that it is convenient for everyone,” the skipper said. Mashrafe is the only player in this team who has played more than 15 years of international cricket and that is the reason why like a big brother, he shares a fine rapport with the next batch of seniors like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim.Reaching the Asia Cup T20 final is just an extension of this faith which was endorsed by the tears of joy that the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not contain on seeing Mortaza and Mahmudullah shepherd Bangladesh to this stage with a win over Pakistan a couple of days ago.Mortaza credits this remarkable rise to coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who has given the team a new direction.”Our coach has helped a lot since he took over in 2014. Reaching the quarterfinals in the 2015 ICC World Cup was the start and since then the team has been doing well. We are given a lot of freedom in practice and are not pushed into stiff regimens. That gives the players the belief and the space to try their best,” he said.Bangladesh will have a lot to gain if it wins the Asia Cup, as it will secure its identity as a power in T20I, feels Mortaza.”If we win the Asia Cup, it will be a watershed moment and definitely establish us as a team to beat in the T20 format. We have attained our status in the ODIs but we have to prove ourselves in T20. The wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in this tournament have already proved the hard work we have done,” Mortaza says.Regarding the retirement Mortaza added, “But that will not happen suddenly. I will consult my teammates who are more important to me in cricket than my family, before taking any decision.”
