Test dream still alive

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh's best fast bowler, wants to make one last attempt at reviving his Test career. There has been speculation about whether the pacer, who last played a Test in July 2009 against West Indies at Kingstown, has a future at all in the Test arena following a series of injuries that have restricted him to limited-overs cricket.
Since making his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 2001 at Dhaka, Mashrafe has played only 36 Tests, missing 40 due to a series of injuries. However, the 30-year-old paceman's mental strength and courage in fighting back from crippling physical setbacks each time have already become the stuff of legend in the country's cricketing circles.
Many however think that returning to the five-day format, the most physically demanding form of the game, is a fight too far but the tenacious Mashrafe does not want to quit the challenge without one last fight.
Is he then targeting the next home series against Sri Lanka? No, Mashrafe first wants to provide enough evidence for the selectors by playing the longer-version matches of the National Cricket League (NCL) that he is deserving of a call-up to the Test squad.
“I still harbour the dream of playing Test matches again. I want to revive my career as a Test bowler. I have overcome a lot of adversity to continue my cricketing career and I want to make one last attempt to revive my career as a Test bowler,” said confident Mashrafe.
“But I think it would not be wise and logical for me to declare myself available for the next series against Sri Lanka; instead I want to play the next National League first. It is my duty to prove myself as good enough for Test cricket. I played my last Test match five years ago, so I cannot expect a return without proving myself at any level,” he continued.
“But I am confident. We have some good pacers and I have to compete with them. I am not a cricketer who even subconsciously thinks about making a return through someone's blessing; rather I want to earn it in my own right,” a determined Mashrafe said.
“And you know we usually have three or four months' gap between Test series, so that will help me to continue as a Test bowler if I get the chance. But before all that I want to make a new start in longer-version cricket this season,” he added.
Mashrafe however wants one favour from the selectors to make his dream possible.
“It will be great for me, if the selectors give me a chance to play any four-day practice matches in the coming days,” he said.
Mashrafe said that the coming limited-over opportunities will also help him to make his dream come true.
“We have a home series against Sri Lanka and then we have the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. As a team it's an opportunity for us to take our cricket to new heights this year and I can also make my way by contributing for in the limited-over competitions,” hoped Mashrafe.
The courageous man expressed his satisfaction over his progress after recovering from his latest injury and he dearly hopes that another injury misfortune will not befall him.