Mashrafe Mortaza to participate in Bangladesh national election

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved Mashrafe Mortaza’s foray into politics.

Mortaza is widely expected to retire from the game after the World Cup 2019 | Getty Images

Mashrafe Mortaza, One-Day International captain of the Bangladesh Cricket Team, is all set to try his hands in politics, as the all-rounder will be participating in the national elections to be held on December 23.

The latest development has confirmed by the ruling party Bangladesh Awami League on Monday (November 12) after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the ODI skipper’s foray into politics.

The Deputy Office Secretary of Awami League, Biplab Barua, has confirmed to bdnews24.com that Mashrafe collected the nomination form of the party on Sunday, while a picture of the cricketer, who enjoys rockstar status in cricket-crazy nation, along with Hasina has been all over the front pages of many newspapers in the South Asian country.

While a spokesman of Awami League has also confirmed that Prime Minister Hasina, who is looking for a third successive tenure in office on December 30, has given green signal to Mortaza to compete in the election from Narail2 –his home-town in western Bangladesh.

Awami League spokesman Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, “He plans to contest from Narail.”

Meanwhile, Mashrafe, who runs a foundation called ‘Narail Express’ in his local area, is yet to make any comment on the latest development, but Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said they have no issue if active players trying their hand at politics.

Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP, “To run in an election is his constitutional right. If he wants to exercise these rights, we have no issue. We expect him to keep the balance between his playing career and politics.”

The 35-year-old, who has played 36 Tests, 199 ODIs, and 54 T20Is for Bangladesh, and called off his T20Is career back in 2016, is widely expected to retire from the game after the World Cup 2019.

(With AFP Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 12 Nov, 2018

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