Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has clarified about his retirements plans and made it pretty clear that the 2019 World Cup which will be played in England and Wales from 30th May will be the last tournament and surely the last World Cup for his nation.
The Bangladesh Tigers departed for Ireland on May 1 and before leaving for that particular tour, Mashrafe Mortaza attended a press conference where the 35-year-old Bangladesh medium pacer was asked whether this was probably his last World Cup.
“It is not a matter of probably; for sure this is my last World Cup,” Bangladesh’s leading ODI wicket-taker Mashrafa Mortaza was quoted as saying by the daily star.net. He will definitely be regarded as one of the finest Bangladesh bowlers ever since making his international debut way back n 2001. He has undergone 7 knee operations and has been a permanent fixture for Bangladesh only since 2014 when he was given the Bangladesh captaincy for the 2nd time.
The final stretch of Mortaza’s captaincy has given Bangladesh the best time in the 50 overs format. Bangladesh qualified for the Quarterfinals in the 2015 World Cup and also made their maiden Champions Trophy semi-final. Meanwhile, they have also managed to win home ODI series against India, South Africa, Pakistan and the Windies.
The Bangladesh ODI skipper was elected to parliament in the elections last year. Despite mentioning that it will be his last World Cup he was not willing to let the pressure get better of him.
“There is no reason for that to make me take any extra preparations,” said Narail’s Mortaza. “That is extra pressure. I will try to perform as a player and as a captain. That is important. Nothing is impossible, but it will be very important for us to handle the ups and downs.”
Meanwhile, this will be for the first time that all the participating teams get to play against each other at least once in the tournament which will surely add balance to the tournament. The matches will be played in a single group and directly the semi-finalists will be chosen.