Bangladesh superstar Mashrafe Mortaza puts forth his retirement plans

Bangladesh cricket has had a number of leaders in their international journey, but none other than Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been phenomenal and most importantly, inspirational in his journey. On a number of instances, frequent injuries have turned detrimental to his career, however, the cricketer hasn’t allowed them to fizzle out his spirit of representing his nation at the highest level.

The 35-year-old is The Tigers’ most successful ODI captain, having led the side to 38 victories out of 67 matches. His Test career came to a halt in 2009 and he also called it quits from T20Is last year. In the meantime, age is starting to catch up with the Norail Express, as he is popularly called. Nevertheless, the Jessore-born stalwart plans to ply his trade until the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

I moved forward as my fitness and performance backed me

“My aim is to play until the World Cup. It is a matter of eight months and I will try to continue the way I am continuing. My personal goal was to play the World Cup and whether [a] review, will be required only time can say. 50% of the people believed that my career is over after the 2011 World Cup.

But by the grace of Allah, I carried it further for another seven years. All my family members were apprehensive whether I can carry it or not. Now my career is coming to an end,“ Mortaza was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.

“Firstly my mind was set to play until the World Cup. During the Champions Trophy, I felt I don’t know whether I can continue after the tournament. Still, I moved forward as my fitness and performance were backing me. So I am saying my mind is set-up to play until the World Cup and though there is a chance to have a review, if I am not in that stage I will have to quit,” he added.

Mortaza is now set to lead Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series against Windies, which gets underway on Sunday, December 9 at Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Prior to the multi-nation event in May, Bangladesh will also lock horns with New Zealand in three ODIs and Mortaza is likely to captain the team, provided he doesn’t succumb to any other injury.

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