|| CF Correspondent ||

While many remain skeptical over Mashrafe Bin Mortaza seriousness in cricket after he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) by huge margin, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon termed the ODI captain as ‘Fighter’, stating that he would leave no stone unturned to give his best when he plays cricket.

“This is really great (Mashrafe being the MP,” said Nazmul while talking to the reporters on Wednesday at his Beximco Office in the city.

“I think such sort of thing is going to happen for the first time in cricket history. I have never heard an MP is playing cricket and even leading his side, so it will be a unique matter and I am very excited with it. Mashrafe has come to the politics and remember he is so serious about it. He however has no thinking about what he will gain by doing politics, all that he understands is to work for his people in his constituency. He wants to do something for his people. Even when he was with me today, he kept telling me he needs it, he needs that and bla bla bla. I have told him all that what you want will be done, first take the oath. He is very keen to do something for his people. But no doubt that he is also obsessed with cricket. After the election he directly entered into the cricket and started practicing. BPL is going to begin, so he changes his mindset towards cricket. He still remains as serious as he was in the past. What is the big proof is that when we went to our constituency for election purpose he was playing cricket against West Indies, so you got it how serious he was with his cricket even when there was election.”

Mashrafe’s first assignment after being MP will be BPL as he will lead Rangpur Riders to retain the title. As he is currently playing just ODI format, he will tour in New Zealand and Ireland with Bangladesh team to play two ODI series before leading the side in World Cup. It is widely speculated that he will retire from the cricket after the World Cup even though Mashrafe didn’t come up with clear message regarding this.

The BCB president also looked doubtful about his retirement cricket and he made it clear, BCB won’t intervene in the plan whatever Mashrafe has regarding his cricket life. All that the BCB president believed that Mashrafe would no compromise when it comes to give his best to the cricket.

“People may think differently and I am of the opinion against it (that people from another party would boo Mashrafe if he performs badly),” Nazmul said.

“What Mashrafe did for Bangladesh till now, it should be enough. His life will not remain same, and in cricketer’s case life never remains same. Performance is such thing that will face ups and downs and he is in the twilight of his career. He may retire any moment. So we want him to play as long as he can. We have no doubt that he will give his best when he will play for Bangladesh. I dont know how good he will perform but I have no doubt that he will try his best. Because he is a real fighter.”