Mashrafee vows to deliver the goods

Mashrafee Bin Mortaza has recently been appointed as the vice captain of the Bangladesh team. The leading Bangladeshi pacer talks about expectations and achievements. Q: Everybody is now calling you an all-rounder after Chittagong test. How do you feel then? Mashrafee: Why an all-rounder? I don’t want to rate myself so. I believe that an all-rounder is the one who is consistent in both bowling and batting. I don’t want to think of it now. I am yet to learn a lot as a bowler. I haven’t yet reached the desired level in

bowling so that I can give extra time and attention for batting. I try whatever I can do with the bat. But that is not enough to call me an all-rounder.

Q: What is bothering you to become an all-rounder? Are you thinking of Irfan Pathan who has almost lost his recognition as a bowler in the process of becoming an all-rounder?

Mashrafee: No, it has nothing to link with Irfan. What I feel that I have come to the team as a bowler and everybody expects from me to perform well in bowling. That is why I want to concentrate in this area. I myself enjoy bowling the most. It is not that I don’t do batting at all. I have been batting since my childhood. Still in the games in Narail, most of the time I open the innings.

Q: Do you think that over emphasis on batting lowered Irfan’s bowling performance?

Mashrafee: Perhaps. Somehow his mindset might have got more inclined towards batting. But whatever others’ opinion are, I will remain firm in my place. I feel like making by performance far better. The time I am spending now batting in net, I hope, will be enough to improve my batting skills.

Q: What do you feel about your batting ability?

Mashrafee: I can understand what I am capable of which is perhaps as much as scoring a century in the test! But it is not that easy as it sounds. However the way that day went in Chittagong, was quite favourable. Especially if Rajib (Shahadat) had been there, I could have made it.

Mashrafee: Before this I have become ‘Man of the Match’ six times in ODIs and also once in a Twenty-20. Yet altogether I did not feel that great as I felt in this test. To me, no game is bigger than a test match in cricket. That is why this achievement is so special.

Q: We have noticed that you are always an admirer of Indian cricket. Why?

Mashrafee: Let me explain this matter. From my childhood I have been a supporter of the Indian team. Before Bangladesh began to play international matches, everybody here used to support the Pakistani team. But my favourite team was India. Not only me but the whole world is full of appreciation towards the Indian batting order. Apart from Australia a few countries in the world have such great batsmen.

Q: It can be assumed that Sachin Tendulkar is your idol. If so, tell us why not Lara?

Mashrafee: I am a great fan of Tendulkar; it is not because I am a supporter of the Indian team. It is really hard to differentiate the two greats, Lara and Tendulkar. Cricket is a matter of enjoyment. If Lara could do like Sachin, he could have scored 20,000 runs. Thus if Lara could fix his mind only on cricket and not anything else, then the whole scenario would have been different. On the other hand a person who has been disciplined, worked hard and took cricket with devotion, should be appreciated more. That is why I think Sachin is the best.

Q: You are very lively. Have you changed after marriage?

Mashrafee: Not that much. I am the same Mashrafee coming in touch with my friends. My lifestyle in Dhaka has changed a bit, but it has remained the same in Narail. Still it is the same gathering and hanging out on the bank of the Chitra. Sometimes a sudden dive in the river!

Q: Still the youngster? But men change after marriage, don’t they?

Mashrafee: (smiles) Yes, I can feel my responsibility.

Q: While talking to you, the injury issue is a must. Does it bug you?

Mashrafee: I don’t feel bothered. Everybody advises me from his own viewpoint, ‘do this’ or ‘you should do that’…and so on. But sometimes when someone gives advice without any kind of understanding, it sounds really boring. Besides many rumours are there regarding my injury. Many claims I once injured myself falling from a tree.

Q: This was an old one, we have also heard of it.

Mashrafee: Not likely. For climbing I choose trees that are high enough to kill a guy with a crash. And not those only to cause me a broken leg. I got injured while skipping. But what I did wrong was I kept on doing my bowling practice. In fact at that time I was just a newcomer in the national team. I did not have the least idea about terms like knee ligament or hamstring. My knee bones were put in the wrong place while bowling that afternoon. That’s the reason behind the injury.


Q: You have then become sensitive to any pain felt in your limbs.

Mashrafee: I really get anxious if I feel any pain before a match with a fear that I may not be able to play. But again I forget about everything while I am in the field.

Q: After all you are truly positive about everything around. How?

Mashrafee: The credit goes to my friends. I always say that my friends are the most important part of my life. When I was injured, all my 30 friends used to surround me all the time. In the afternoon they would lift me up to take me to the river bank and let me rest on pillow and pati. They never let me feel that I am out of cricket. Many people break down being out of game for so long. Without my friends’ help I could barely make a comeback. Many of my friends are poor but it does not matter in friendship.

Q: From the very beginning you are the number one pace bowler of Bangladesh team. Moreover now everybody wants to see you bat well. Aren’t these expectations too much?

Mashrafee: I have a benefit, I forget about everything once I begin my game. I remember nothing, who told what. I only think of every ball. Still expectations create pressure. If it becomes too much, I leave it upon the Almighty. I try to perform well in every match. What I don’t want to hear before retiring is ‘Mashrafee has been an average player, somehow played his part’.

Q: Do you do anything to lessen the stress, like yoga or meditation?

Mashrafee: I don’t do anything additional. I strictly obey the restriction of my physiotherapist. I don’t at all think of cricket out of field. I am actually incapable of pre-planning my games. I better plan my attacks while being there in the field.

Q: Have you fixed any goal yet?

Mashrafee: Earlier I did not think this way. Now I feel that as a cricketer I should have specific goal. For now I want to take 200 wickets in test and 250 in ODIs.