ICC World Cup 2019 | Mashrafe Mortaza shouldn’t be bothered about retirement, states Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes has stated that Mashrafe Mortaza should be left alone and be given the liberty of taking his time to decide whether he wants to continue playing or is it time to hang up the boots. He went on to heap praise on the skipper and said that the team will have to move on from him eventually.
Mashrafe Mortaza could be stepping onto the field for the last time in Bangladesh colours in the final game of the ongoing World Cup against Pakistan on Friday. Having first represented his country on the sport’s grandest platform as long as 16 years ago, Mortaza has been an integral part of the squad for years and has overseen their rise from cricketing minnows to new-age world beaters. While it is certainly the last ever World Cup game for the 35-year-old, he might decide to continue featuring for the Tigers in the upcoming tours.
"Mashrafe will decide himself with the board, and I think that everybody ought to leave that up to them, and I think whilst it's a great story for the media, let's pay a little respect and let him organise whether he does or he doesn't [want to retire]," Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes firmly stated on the matter, reported Cricbuzz.
Mortaza has 217 caps for his country in the 50-over format and is the country’s longest-serving captain, having led his team in more than 85 games. He has been a part of some important milestones, such as winning a World Cup match against India, reaching the Champions Trophy semifinals, and most recently winning a tri-series in Ireland. He has inspired his team to put up some strong performances in the tournament as they could register their fourth win against Pakistan today.
"The one thing about Mashrafe with the players is that they respect him incredibly. I often use the word warrior, he goes to war for the team, and people respect that. The players in the dressing room love Mash, and he has said it's his last World Cup, and it will be emotional for him,'' Rhodes said.
However, he has, of late, been riddled with health issues. Back injuries have sidelined him for quite some time over the last few years and slight niggles have become a common thing for him. Being a fast bowler, such injuries usually spell the end of a player’s career and while Mortaza has been extremely brave to keep returning to the national side, he might call it curtains soon. Regardless, the team will have to sooner or later move on from a player who is one of the greatest cricketers the country has ever produced.
"If he's not in Sri Lanka, then we move on. Bangladesh has to move on eventually without Mash, and whether it's after this tournament or whether it's in a year's time, at some stage Bangladesh has to move on, like all the great countries in international cricket. It's not always easy. It can be a difficult void to fill, but that's what I was meaning when I said we move on," Rhodes concluded.