ICC world Cup 2019 | The World Cup is a completely different challenge, says Mashrafe Mortaza

209 One Day International caps, including 77 as the national team's captain, if there is one Bangladesh player that certainly knows how to go in prepared for a tournament with as big a magnitude as the upcoming World Cup, it is Mashrafe Mortaza. Having been an important part of the team that has tasted victory recently, it was a team effort to say the least and was driven by the experience of some very experienced players, such as Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, who have been involved on the international stage for a long time. The captain fully backs these set of key players to take them the distance.

"The truth is that we don't have better options. The ones who are here are currently the best available options. You can always debate about two or three players who are not in the team but still I feel we have gone into the World Cup with our best available options. We needed to back them and as they were performing and it is certainly pleasing as they have repaid our faith," he said, reported Cricbuzz.

Mortaza went on to say that sticking with his players during a lean patch is vital, for they cannot go on changing the game plan and shuffling the team every time a player does not perform for a couple of games.

"Of course we have to stick with him[an underperforming player]. Because you had to set a plan for the World Cup, your eleven needs to be fixed. If you have reached the [tri-series] final, you should play those players in the final that might be in the lineup for the first match of the World Cup. Unless someone carries something [bad form, injury] consistently, he should have the chance," Mortaza explained.

Mortaza emphasized the role of these regular players in the team, citing them irreplaceable even if their substitutes have been performing well, and reaffirmed that they will be handed back their spot in the starting XI on return.

"This is a good feeling for the player. It is also a good feeling for the player who didn't get selected even after scoring runs. He will remember, the next person to get the chance is me. Like Liton, Soumya scored runs in the first two matches, we went back to him. If he (Soumya) wasn't injured, he might have played the third match as well. But we had to test players. We had to give Liton a chance. God forbid, but someone can have problems 2-3 matches into the World Cup, then Liton will be needed to play. What has happened with him scoring is that, he knows, 'the next man is me'. Rahi also knows, 'the next man is me.'", Mortaza said justifying their strategy.

Coming off a successful campaign in Ireland where they managed to win all of their four games in a tri-series which included West Indies apart from the host nation, the team looks to be in good shape. Mortaza, however, believes the World Cup is a different ball game, even though he now has confidence his team is mentally prepared to go far in a big tournament.

"The World Cup is a completely different challenge. There will be many high scoring matches in the World Cup. Every match will be played in a different intensity. Every team will try to get their best out of themselves. And the hype of the tournament is bigger as well. There are a lot more challenges waiting there (for us)," he said.

"That [mental barrier] was about the final. We have played six finals and lost. We couldn't turn around from that position. After winning it from a difficult situation this time, we have an advantage as the boys will not be puzzled in such situations in the finals," he added.