‘It’s been a blessing’

Hamilton Masakadza made his last international game a memorable one as the Zimbabwe skipper led from the front by smashing a blistering, match-winning knock of 71 to help clinch a consolation win in the T20I tri-series -- their maiden T20I win over Afghanistan -- by seven wickets at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

Terming Bangladesh as his second home, Masakadza said that it was a very special way for him to end his international career.

“Bangladesh, where I made so many friends, has always been very special to me and very close to my heart. I really love the passion of the people of this country. It’s really been a blessing to come here,” Masakadza, a familiar face in the domestic circuit, told reporters yesterday.

“Fortunately, today [Friday] there were no tears on the field but I started tearing up in the morning when I tried to go through the team talk. On the day when I announced my official retirement to my teammates, I could barely speak three sentences, so yes, it’s been a really emotional time for me,” Masakadza, the second-youngest to score a century on Test debut, said.

According to the 36-year-old losing the Test series in 2005, which was Bangladesh’s first ever Test series win, is his darkest memory in Bangladesh.

He praised Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, with whom he played in the Dhaka Premier League for Kalabagan Krira Chakra. “I think a lot of people don’t really know his story and what he has been through. I remember I was talking to him and said that he needs to write a book on his life as he is such an inspiration. He is one guy that everyone doesn’t know what he has given to Bangladesh. It was a blessing and a really good time that I spent with him.”