BCB asks Mashrafe Mortaza to return for the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka

BCB trying to bring Mashrafe Mortaza back into the T20I folds.

Mashrafe Mortaza retired from T20Is last year in April | AFP

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president –Nazmul Hasan on Wednesday revealed that BCB is trying to bring Mashrafe Mortaza back into the Twenty20 International folds and even the Board recently had a meeting with him regarding the matter.

Bangladesh have won just one T20I in their last 13 games, while their last win was against Sri Lanka and that was Mortaza's farewell game in April last year. Mortaza has taken the step because he wanted to give the opportunity to the youngsters to grow for a bigger stage.

Mortaza had said, “If I look behind me, someone like Rubel is missing out. He should have been in the first XI, but he is missing out because of me. Since he is performing better than me, he should be in the team. I still feel this team is the best place for our youngsters to grow for a bigger stage like Tests and ODIs.”

As per Cricbuzz, Hasan told reporters, “We have talked about it in today's meeting. It also depends on Mashrafe. Everyone has told me that he will listen to me. I can't put him under pressure. I can tell him if he agrees. Mashrafe was asked to play the T20 series, but the matter did not roll further because he wanted to make a comeback to the Test side. We will also ask him to return for the Nidahas Trophy next month [a T20I tri-series that will also involve hosts Sri Lanka and India].”

The BCB chief further added, “Your strategy - type of pitch and the squad - is shaped by the opposition. There will be problems if you are not sure about those things; you start listening to what everyone has to say and don't show leadership. I want to make it very clear that I am not belittling anyone, however, it is also very clear that we need a coach. Hathurusingha was a good coach, but he isn't the only one. There are many like him who can reorganize this team and bring back the good times.”

Hasan signed off by saying, “I had seen them work with a plan for the last four years but it was missing this time. I just felt that they were lacking in planning, strategy, mental strength and teamwork. So our immediate need is a high-quality coach. They needed someone over them. What we had was not enough. If it was enough, then this team wouldn't have changed so much. It didn't seem like the Bangladesh team of old. The players themselves said that they could take on the role of a coach. But now I see that they cannot be given that liberty.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 21 Feb, 2018

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