Mashrafe Mortaza is all set to contest the 11th parliamentary elections of the country on ruling party Awami League's ticket.
Call it a compulsion, but sporting achievements are often measured by numbers in hand and that is precisely why it will be difficult to analyse Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza's influence and contribution in the country's ever-growing cricketing ambitions.
Such is the situation that Bangladesh may be forced to field a half-fit Mustafizur Rahaman. On injury status of Mustafizur Rahman, Mortaza said, "Even if he is at 20 per cent, he has to play. We don't have any players." Asked whether Shuvagato Hom Chaudhury and Saqlain Sajib are suitable replacements for Taskin and Aarafat, Mortaza said they are very much capable, but there is a stark difference between in-form players and novices at international level. "The two replacements are very much capable, but the point is that someone who is in form in international cricket, and someone who is coming into international cricket - these are two different things. I think both Taskin and Sunny have been brilliant; Hom and Sajib will surely do their best," he said. Asked about the plans against Australia, Mortaza said the team has been playing good cricket in the last one and a half years, but they did not play as good as they played in Asia Cup.
Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza's house was set on fire.
Kolkata Knight Riders made history at the IPL 2026 mini auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday by securing Bangladesh pace ace Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.20 crore
"I was really hoping Mashrafe Mortaza might have been in that (Super Series) one-day group," Dav Whatmore told reporters.
Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has recovered from COVID-19 after receiving treatment at home since June 20. Mortaza announced the negative result of his test on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz named new Bangladesh ODI skipper
The Bangladesh cricket team's injury problems were compounded after senior pacer Mashrafe Mortaza was ruled out of the remainder of the Asia Cup due to a side strain.
The 23-year-old all-rounder hit a career-best 79 to help Bangladesh post 238 and avoid the follow-on after they were reeling at 149 for 8 at one stage on Day 4 of the first Test.
The 22-year-old fast bowler has played a key role in Bangladesh's rise in international cricket.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has revealed that he and his teammates skipped dinner after their gut-wrenching one-run defeat against India in the recently concluded World T20.
Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza will not take part in next month's World Cup. The injured fast bowler was left out of Bangladesh's 15-man squad named on Wednesday. Mortaza, 27, injured his knee during a domestic match last month and selectors felt he would not have regained full fitness in time for the Feb 19-April 2 tournament being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza will captain Bangladesh on next month's one-day tour of England, Scotland and Ireland, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Monday. The 26-year-old Mortaza takes over from Shakib Al Hasan, who led the side in the recent Test series against England.
The Bangladesh Premier League got its first dose of controversy as Mashrafe Mortaza reported to his franchise, Dhaka Gladiators, an approach from a fellow-cricketer to indulge in spot-fixing during the tournament.
Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza and two other Bangladesh cricketers, Nazmul Islam and Nafees Iqbal have tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus. The 36-year-old Mortaza was reportedly unwell for the last couple of days and tested positive for the contagious disease on Saturday. He is currently in self-isolation at his residence in Dhaka.
Mashrafe Mortaza will replace Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar in Asia's squad for the Afro-Asia Cup.
Injured pacer Mashrafe Mortaza was left out of the 14-member Bangladesh squad for the two-match Test series against India starting from January 17 in Chittagong.
Bangladesh rang the changes in a 14-man squad named on Sunday for next month's one-day series against Australia following their disappointing World Cup campaign.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has been ruled out of next month's home tri-series against India and Sri Lanka after failing a fitness test, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Thursday. Mortaza underwent surgery on both knees in Australia in September and was looking to return for the series, which starts on January 4 in Dhaka.
Bangladesh sacked Mohammad Ashraful as national cricket captain on Tuesday and replaced him with Mashrafe Mortaza for tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
The Bangladesh fast bowler smashed career best 79, inclusive of seven boundaries and three sixes, to help his team avoid the follow on.
The fast bowler, who played the last of his 18 Tests against England in 2005, was recalled for the two-Test series against Australia.
Veteran Bangladesh batter Mahmudullah announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning 17 years.
Mashrafe Mortaza has in the recent past often faced questions on his retirement, but the experienced seamer still hasn't divulged his plans.
According to a report in 'ESPNcricinfo', the players are likely to meet with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials later on Wednesday.
Mind games have begun ahead of the Asia Cup final played between host Bangladesh and India at Mirpur on Sunday. While India's team director Ravi Shastri has termed it as 'yet another match', Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza called India as clear favourites to relieve pressure from his young side in the title clash. "We all know that Indians are clear favourites in the final. Let there be no debates or discussions on that," Mashrafe said at a packed match-eve press conference. India have been in rampaging form with four convincing wins in the tournament, including the 45-run thumping of Bangladesh in their opening league match. "What we have got is a young team which has won matches playing as a unit. We still don't have a T20 star, who can single-handedly win us a match. Crowd, pitch, conditions, everything will favour us but that can never ensure that we will win the final," Mashrafe clarified. Commenting on Shastri's statement, Mashrafe said that for his team which rarely makes final appearances, it's a "big occasion". "What Ravi Shastri has said is absolutely right. It is another match for them as they are used to hype and big matches. They can take it like 10 other matches. "India has played big finals, won trophies. What is easy for them may not be that easy for us. But we are trying to focus on the game, shut ourselves from the hype and remain and play as normally as possible," the Bangladesh skipper said.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza and batsman Sabbir Rahman have been fined 20 percent of their match fees following an angry exchange with England skipper Jos Buttler during the second one-day international on Sunday. Buttler was reprimanded after being found guilty of "using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting" after his dismissal during Bangladesh's series-levelling 34-run victory.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup match between Australia and Bangladesh.
'It won't be easy like the other matches but confidence is the main thing... If we took that confidence into the ground and deliver to our best, you never know'
Bangladesh axed opening batsman Zunaed Siddique and left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr. from an 18-man squad announced on Tuesday for next month's home Tri-series against India and Sri Lanka.
The trophy was displayed by the captains of the participating nations.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza expressed displeasure at a few decisions going against his side in their 109 runs' thrashing by India in the cricket World Cup quarter-finals at the MCG on Thursday though he did not say it in so many words.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza admitted they were in a state of sorrow in the aftermath of their inexplicable one-run loss to India but hoped they would return home with their heads held high by winning against New Zealand in their concluding league fixture of ICC World Twenty20 in Kolkata on Saturday. "The whole team is in a state of sorrow, everyone is broken. Nobody is blaming anyone but we've somehow accepted the defeat. Everyone was very upset. They just could not talk to each other. It was so disappointing," Mortaza said summing up the team's mood after their loss in Bengaluru. "We have never lost this way. We have to play our best again. If we get the opportunity, we have to make sure we don't repeat the same mistakes. The conditions are similar but the wicket is different. New Zealand are on top clearly, whereas we lost all three. We will try our best." Mortaza further said saying 'sorry' to their fans would not be enough and they would try to play hard to put the disappointment behind and try to get over the line against the unstoppable Black Caps.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza's preparations for the one-day international series against India have been disrupted by hand injuries sustained while riding to training in a cycle rickshaw.
Domingo said it is important that the cricketers share and open about any difficulties they face.
Mashrafe Mortaza's side are set to face a baptism of fire as they come up against the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi in their tournament bow at the Oval.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, on Friday, hinted that he may end his international career after the 2016 season with the ICC World T20 in all likelihood his last global event.
Bangladesh made their foray into Test arena in 2000 against India but in 15 years, have never received invitation from BCCI, something that the current players are looking forward to, insists their limited overs captain Mashrafe Mortaza.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza says his injury-struck side will have to improve considerably in all departments to challenge India in the Asia Cup final, in Dubai, on Friday.