Mashrafee hints at early retirement

Mashrafee hints at early retirement

Dhaka, Dec 4 (Just News): Bangladesh one-day international captain Mashrafee bin Muratza on Tuesday said he might consider retiring from cricket even before the 2019 World Cup provided he did not feel fit enough.

Mashrafee dropped this hint while speaking to reporters during a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, where he mostly spoke about his participation in the upcoming general elections on a ruling party ticket.

The 35-year old pacer is all set to play his final series at home when Bangladesh take on visiting West Indies in three one-day internationals between December 9 and 14.

Mashrafee is widely expected to retire after the World Cup, but the fast bowler and the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in 50-over cricket, suggested it will all depend on his form and fitness.

‘My mind was set up to play until the World Cup,’ said Mashrafee. ‘Until the Champions Trophy [in 2017], I was not sure if I could continue after that.

‘Still I moved forward as my fitness and performance was backing me...there is a chance to review it [after the World Cup] and if I am not in that stage, I will have to quit.

‘If it stays like this then I will try to continue. But anything can happen even before that,’ he said.

Mahsrafee said that whatever comes for him in next few months, he will leave without any regret.

‘Fifty per cent 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,’ he said.

Mashrafee’s ODI swansong at home was largely overshadowed by his decision of joining politics, which sparked a mixed reaction to his fans.

But the pacer made very little complaint about it and said he made a conscious decision of joining politics with an aim to serve the people.

‘You see, now my career is coming to an end,’ he said. ‘I am not Sachin Tendulkar or Glenn McGrath that people will remember me. I tried to play cricket my way and carry it through all the struggle of my life.

‘But I always enjoyed working for people. It was a childhood hobby you can say. Honorable prime minister gave me that opportunity so that I can do something from a greater perspective.’

Mashrafee urged not to treat him like any other out-and-out politician and refused to single out any reason why people in his constituency should consider him as better candidate than others.

‘I have never said I am better than him,’ Mashrafee said of his rival candidate from the opposition.

‘I respect him. How I can say I am better by disrespecting someone. I will not go that far. Of course I will say [seek vote] it in my own way. But I don’t want to be great by belittling other. I am a sportsman. Here I have to take same mentality,’ he said.

Despite the talks regarding his participation in politics, Mashrafee said he was not affected by it and kept his focus firmly on the series against West Indies.

He, however, refused to treat as any other special series.

‘The series is to me like it was before coming to election. It doesn’t matter if it is my start or end. But of course I want to win this series. To me it is like any other eight to 10 series,’ he said.