|| Cricfrenzy Correspondent ||
Former Tiger ODI skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said on Sunday that he is eyeing to make a comeback in competitive cricket through upcoming Corporate League T20.
Mashrafe refused to be part of the three-team ODI competition which is expected to start from October 11 when selectors approached him to know about his availability.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is chalking up a plan to organise a 50-over tournament comprising three teams and there’s high probability that the three teams will be Bangladesh National Team, Bangladesh A team and High Performance Unit.
Mashrafe stepped down from the leadership role during three-match ODI’s series against Zimbabwe at home but insisted that he will try to make a comeback in the coming days.
But his refusal to take part in the proposed three-team 50-over tournament raised quite a few eyebrows whether the sitting Member of Parliament had decided to quit competitive cricket.
However, he refused to say that he had seen it all and said that he is expecting to be fit before the Corporate League T20 tournament.
“Of course, I will play,” Mashrafe told reporters on Sunday. “Nannu bhai (BCB Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu) called me and I requested him to enlist me for Corporate League because I want to play there,” said the most successful Bangladesh ODI skipper.
“Not just the T20s and one day matches, I will play the four day match also because I didn’t retire yet,” he said.
“I will play wherever I get the opportunity to play. But before that I need to take preparation,” he said whose decision to quit ODI captaincy comes in the wake of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announcing that the Zimbabwe series would be his last as a leader, after which he will have to prove his form and fitness to be considered for selection.
While Bangladeshi cricketers are in the bio bubble environment and practicing for quite some time, it was not the case with Mashrafe as he was not called up by the team management.
Mashrafe feels that he has enough time to prepare for Corporate League adding that if BCB makes arrangement for him to regain his fitness, it is fine with him otherwise he will work out his own to way match fitness.
“There is more than a month before the Corporate League and I feel it will be sufficient to regain my fitness. First three weeks, I will work on fitness and then move on to bowling,” said Mashrafe.
“Since I am a cricketer, I have to make my own arrangements. I will be able to play if BCB gives me a chance. I have to start preparing,” he said.
Mashrafe had tested positive for coronavirus earlier and took more time to recover than usually required and according to many close to the legendary cricketer, corona was a major reason behind him skipping the 50-over tournament.
