Team above all
Team above all
In the last few days players have come up with their individual targets, expectations and desires, as well as the team goal in the coming ICC World Cup. Showing the spirit of a true leader Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is focused solely on the team's success. He did bracket Mushfiqur Rahim with the world's best batsmen or said Shakib Al Hasan got the ability to bowl well on any kind of wicket, but still he was not ready to worship any individual.
After the Tigers' last practice session in Bangladesh yesterday, the captain talked to the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. During the marathon press conference the 'Narail Express' exuded confidence but was not ready to divulge his expectations as he believed that there was no limitation to success.
"I don't think it will help his career if someone finishes in top ten because there are always ups and downs in performances. See, someone may finish as the best player but what will it mean if he doesn't get nowhere near in next six months? But it will be historical and people will talk about it for a long time if we can take our team to a certain stage. To me the team's achievement is much more important than any individual achievement," said Mashrafe.
He also came up with a bold statement regarding the spinners' success in the tournament although there has been lot of talking surrounding the conditions down under, where pacers traditionally get the advantage. Bangladesh's bowling success is centred mainly on their slow bowlers and that's why many doubt their success in the unfamiliar conditions, but Mashrafe has different opinions.
"It's my belief that spinners will play a vital role in the World Cup. From what I have seen in Tests, ODIs and Big Bash matches, the spinners' economy rate was better compared to the pacers'. The spinners will succeed only if there is no grass," opined the Bangladesh skipper.
From his long experience Mashrafe knows how important it is for his team to win the first game because the Tigers always need momentum, like they had during the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
"We should prepare all our plans for the first match against Afghanistan," said Mashrafe, adding that they will get enough time to prepare a plan against another associate nation Scotland.
The Bangladesh skipper also found no reason to think too much about the conditions and he believes that his team has got the potential to beat any team in the world, if fortune smiles on them along with a good performance.
"Honestly speaking I am not in favour of targeting any team because it will put unnecessary pressure on the team during that particular match. We have beaten all the teams who are in our group and we also won matches in their home conditions. If we can play our best cricket then it is very much possible to beat any team. But as I said for that we need to make a good start," said a confident Mashrafe.
Everybody has faith in Mashrafe with regards to his leadership, but he has yet to be tested during tumultuous times. Mashrafe was also aware of that fact.
"It is always tough to lead a team like Bangladesh. It becomes tougher to lead if the team doesn't perform consistently. I led the team in the last five matches and won all of them, so that challenge is yet to be created," said Mashrafe.