Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has shrugged off any retirement plans just after the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019. Meanwhile, a number of retirements from international cricket are on the cards by the end of this marquee tournament.
No plans to retire immediately after the World Cup: Mortaza
Mashrafe Mortaza had earlier said that this would be his last World Cup before leaving for England. The statement created a lot of buzz going around on whether he wants to say goodbye to his 18-year old international career following the tournament. Although Mortaza has not been in the best of forms, Bangladesh have played stunning cricket and is still alive in the competition.
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The Bangladesh skipper revealed that he would like to continue playing cricket even after the World Cup gets over. However, if the Bangladesh Cricket Board insist, Mashrafe Mortaza can think otherwise.
“I don’t want to quit (international cricket) immediately because I want to play more,” said Mortaza in a recent interview. “It is a different matter if BCB thinks otherwise but the board has not instructed me anything as such (regarding my retirement). I have already announced that it will be my last World Cup so I wanted them [my family members] to come and watch me playing for the last time in the showcase event,” he added.
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Mashrafe Mortaza, since making his debut in 2001 has represented Bangladesh in 36 Tests, 215 ODIs, and 54 T20Is. The all-rounder has also been an inspirational leader, and the Tigers have seen the graph going upwards during his tenure. Meanwhile, BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus insisted that these retirement talks will hamper the team’s performance during the tournament.
Bangladesh will face India on July 2 (Tuesday) in a must-win game at Edgbaston in Birmingham. They are currently at the fifth position with seven points from an equal number of matches and will have to win rest of the games to give themselves a chance of qualifying to the semifinals.