Amid all the retirement speculations after Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo hinted Mashrafe Mortaza’s role in the Bangladesh team is almost over, Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal has come out in support of the “legend”, saying the veteran pacer is irreplaceable in the national side.
Tamim was handed over the ODI captaincy after Mortaza stepped down in February during Bangladesh’s home series against Zimbabwe, which was also his first international appearance since Bangladesh’s miserable World Cup campaign in England last year.
Mortaza was also recently excluded from the central contracts list at his own request, which has fueled the fire to his retirement rumors especially after Domingo said he’s backing young guns for the future.
Recently, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had also openly offered a farewell to the former ODI captain but he refused and said he was hurt to see how the bord is in a hurry regarding the things as well as expressed disappointment at BCB’s treatment of him during his rough days.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed ODI captain Tamim has backed Mortaza while calling him a “legend” and said he would like to have him in his XI, but at the same time, he admitted that there are other factors to be taken into consideration for selection. Tamim further said that he has to earn respect from selectors and board so that he can put out his preferences and choices in front of them.
Tamim told Cricfrenzy, “Let me say one thing as I’m a new captain, so for me, if I say on the first day of the first selection meeting that I want this, I want that, I want him. I have to earn that respect from selectors, from the board. I have to earn that respect, how can I earn that, I can earn that through my performance.”
He signed off by saying, “Mashrafe Bhai is a legend. I don’t think there is anyone in the Bangladesh team who would not take him. But of course, there is a lot to consider. We will see when the right time will come. But he is a legend and there is no one who will not take him.”
(With Cricfrenzy Inputs)
