Mashrafe Mortaza walking out of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday after returning from Colombo, where he got encouraging news from Dr. David Young about his chances of playing in the World Cup. Photo: STAR

Bangladesh fast bowler Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's World Cup chances are now a battle between logic and emotion.
And the fans are maybe in for a last-moment drama about whether the pace spearhead represents his country in the World Cup at home or not. Right at this moment there has however been a ray of hope for the "Narail Express" according to Australian surgeon Dr. David Young, who gave him the words of hope.
"Dr Young has confirmed that there is significant instability at the right knee, and tearing to the ACL graft [which had previously been reconstructed]. He also notes significant effusion, or swelling, at the knee joint," said a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) statement yesterday after Mashrafe's return from Colombo.
"While the swelling and instability do not exclude him from playing in the short term, if Mortaza continues to play for an extended period with the knee as it is it can lead to higher rates of degeneration and further damage, and is not recommended," it's added.
The observation came after Mashrafe saw orthopaedic surgeon Young in Colombo on Sunday for an opinion on the knee, which he injured whilst batting during a Premier Division Cricket League match on December 21 last year.
"I'm now more confident after the consultation with Dr Young. He was happy with the improvement and progress I made so far and what he told me is that everything would depend on me. I'm now tension free and will try my best to regain the fitness and form before the World Cup," said a delighted Mashrafe while talking to the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
"My main objective would be to get myself ready so that I can grab the opportunity of playing the World Cup if it comes my way. As per Dr Young's opinion there is no problem in playing competitive matches with this condition but I must have my knee operated on if I want to lengthen my career," he added.
Young has advised that as a World Cup standby player Mashrafe should continue his current rehabilitation programme, with a view to regaining his fitness and form. And following the World Cup tournament, it has been proposed that his right knee is operated on, in order to repair the ACL graft and return stability to the knee.
"After the operation, Dr Young believes Mortaza could continue playing international cricket for another 5 years," the BCB statement said.
"Let's see how long I can manage to play without the operation because you know already six operations have been performed on my knees. I have already started bowling with short run-up and am yet to decide when I will start with my full run-up. The next five-six days are very important for me," said Mashrafe.
The braveheart cricketer also said that he would try to play at least one or two matches for Abahani in the Premier Division Super League.
"I don't think lack of match practice will be an issue for me because I proved myself time and again. I will get the chance to bowl in nets against the national team players and I will try to play at least the last two games in the Super league of the Premier Division Cricket," hoped Mashrafe.