||CF Correspondent||

Reigning champions Abahani Limited relies on the shrewd brain of ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as they are looking forward to retaining the title of the coveted Dhaka Premier League (DPL), which is all set to get on board through a ‘Players’ Draft’ on Monday.

Mashrafe who has already been retained by Abahani along with Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Nazmul Hossain Shanto is likely to miss some of the DPL matches as he will be on break till March 10 after the ODI series against New Zealand.

The DPL is likely to begin in the first week of March. Mashrafe has been playing the series against New Zealand just after his month-long association with Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which raised a question whether his injury-prone body could take a toll of that continuous cricket. And there is the World Cup coming in which Mashrafe will lead the Bangladesh team.

But citing him as ‘Competitive’ cricketer, Abahani head coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon said the lanky fast bowler would rather be raring to go.

“I think there is definitely a competitive cricket in the Premier League. Mashrafe is always a competitive guy so it is definitely important for him,” Mahmud said on Sunday.

“He needed a break…. We should keep it in mind.  The World Cup is so important for us.” Many predicted Mashrafe will bid adieu to the cricket after the completion of the ICC World Cup, a cricketing extravaganza that the player himself makes a ‘Birds Eye’ in a bid to sign off his illustrious career.

Mahmud termed Mashrafe as the big factor for Abahani’s title aspiration. Even though he was not the regular captain of Abahani in the last season, he actually was involved as manager cum coach in the team and took all important decision with Mahmud.