Captain Mashrafe’s last hurrah today
The focus was on Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza ahead of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe and, if possible, the spotlight has only intensified as the third and final ODI at the Sylhet International Stadium today will be the last time the captain fantastic leads Bangladesh out onto the field. Mashrafe confirmed yesterday that he is stepping down from the captaincy, but will still fight it out for his place and that he is not done yet as a player.
His teammates will be looking to give a perfect send-off by winning the 50th match under his leadership, which saw them become a formidable squad from 2015 up until 2019. Bangladesh reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia, won series against India, Pakistan and South Africa at home and also reached the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy in England in 2017. Now also a member of parliament, Mashrafe has also been the iconic image in Bangladesh for his leadership qualities both on and off the field.
Bangladesh, who have already won the series by virtue of winning the first two games, will be looking for a clean sweep against a rather demotivated Zimbabwe side.
Mashrafe, since 2010, has led Bangladesh in ODI in two stints and is the most successful, having won 49 of 87 matches. In his first tenure in year 2010, the right-arm pacer led Bangladesh to three wins in seven matches against England in Bristol, Ireland and then against New Zealand at home. With around three years' gap Mashrafe was again given charge to lead Bangladesh in ODIs in 2014 and has since led in 46 wins in 80 games.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team management will tinker the playing eleven as pacer Mustafizur Rahman and all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin are set return for today's game, replacing two under-performing pacers in the second ODI, Al-Amin Hossain and Shafiul Islam.
Shafiul, however, left the Tigers' camp to be with his ailing father who was admitted to the ICU yesterday morning. Meanwhile, there was talk of resting the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim for the third and final ODI as the team management wanted to give opportunities to players who will be touring Pakistan for the lone ODI.
But it will be interesting to see whether Mushfiqur finally plays the game today, as Mashrafe hinted that Mushfiqur should be given full priority for his contributions behind the wins of Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will also look to win the last ODI and draw confidence from their performance in the second ODI which the visitors went agonisingly close to winning in chase of a huge target of 323 runs, falling short by just four runs.
It is expected to be a full house at the north-eastern city after the attendance in the first two ODIs remained low.
Comments