Asia Cup 2018: For Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, a trophy doesn’t decide his career

For Bangladesh, the prayer is to be third time lucky. They reached the final of the Asia Cup twice in the past – both on home soil – but failed to cross the last hurdle. They are there again and will take on India in the title decider at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28. Can the Tigers have the last laugh this time which will also mean that they have avenged the defeat of the final of the 2016 edition?

However, for Bangladesh’s captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who recently completed 250 ODI wickets for his country and is approaching the final leg of an illustrious career, it is not winning a major trophy that should be the deciding yardstick for his career and leadership. And this philosophy is coming from the Tigers’ most successful captain in the ODIs with an astonishing success percentage of 57.57. Under the leadership of the 34-year-old who is playing with a finger injury in this edition, Bangladesh have won 35 out of 63 games.

‘One day, Bangladesh will win a trophy’

“Firstly, I don’t see myself as so cheap (low) that I would judge myself on a trophy. Secondly, I do not play cricket for a trophy. A trophy is very important at one stage, and I believe Inshallah one day, Bangladesh will win one. It’s important because it will boost the young generation coming into cricket,” Mashrafe told the media at the team hotel in Dubai on the eve of the Asia Cup final.

Bangladesh are coping with a number of injuries in this tournament. While their reputed opener Tamim Iqbal broke his wrist in the first match of the tournament against Sri Lanka, ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has flown home with an aggravated finger injury. Wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim also could not keep for most part of the Pakistani innings on Thursday after playing an innings of 99 in sapping heat.

However, Bangladesh saw a dip in their performance after thrashing the Lankans in their first game as they lost badly in consecutive games against Afghanistan and India. But they came back strongly to beat Afghanistan in a close game and then Pakistan to qualify for the final.

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