|| CF DESK ||

Sylhet Strikers' team manager, Nafees Iqbal, believes that Mashrafe Mortaza's leadership skills is essential to the team, and the franchise owners are eager to have him in the starting lineup despite all the criticism.

Mashrafe faced heavy criticism for his recent performance in BPL, the pacer could not take enough preparation for the tournament because of a lengthy election campaign before the tournament.

Following their thrashing 52-run defeat against Comilla Victorians. the captain came under heavy scrutiny, in reply to that the former Bangladesh captain remarked that ‘Mashrafe is nothing in Bangladesh cricket’ and urged to focus on the upcoming players.

When Nafees was questioned about his remarks, he responded by stating that Mashrafe possesses a strong mentality as a player, and his leadership skills make him worthy of a place in the team.

“Recognizing his significance for the franchise, they are keen on having him on the field. A team possesses a particular strength. We know Mashrafe's capability, not only in terms of his playing skills but also in his leadership qualities. The team's leadership quality should also be taken into consideration, and based on this, the franchise owners are eager for Mashrafe to be in the XI,” said Nafees.

“Regarding his preparation, there was a national election that impacted his preparation. Looking at the last match, his bowling was exceptional, and I believe he will continue to improve in the upcoming matches. Another notable aspect is his strong mental fortitude, which is a gift from above and not something everyone possesses. He has a remarkable ability to adapt,” he added..