It Is Quite Disrespectful Towards Mushfiqur Rahim's Dedication: Mashrafe Mortaza Slams Bangladesh Team Management

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza slammed Bangladesh team management after senior batsman Mushfiqur Rahim decided not to keep wickets for the team in T2oI cricket.

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said that Mushfiqur’s desire to keep in the format isn’t great anymore and wants Nurul Hasan to take over the reins. Domingo confirmed that Mushfiqur told him he does not want to keep the wickets in the shortest format.

“There has been a change (in plans). Initially after speaking to Mushy (Mushfiqur Rahim), he was going to keep after the second game. But he told me he probably doesn’t want to keep wickets in T20s anymore, so we have to move on,” Domingo was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“I don’t think Mushfiqur’s desire to keep in this format is great anymore. We have to focus on [Nurul Hasan] Sohan, and let him do those duties going into the competition,” he added.

Mushfiqur Rahim doesn’t need to be told that he needs to perform after being around for 16 years: Mashrafe Mortaza

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Mortaza wrote a big post on his personal Facebook account to condemn the recent events that happened with his former teammate.

Mortaza, who played with Rahim for close to 15 years in the national team, criticized Domingo’s statement and said that Mushfiqur Rahim doesn’t need to be told to perform after spending 16 years with the national team. Mortaza also called the conduct as disrespectful to Rahim’s dedication.

“I am just wondering how it is affecting [Nurul Hasan] Sohan. How does he evaluate himself now that he is given two matches after keeping wickets regularly in the last two series? Liton [Das] will probably forget wicketkeeping in this situation,” Mashrafe wrote. 

“Mushfiqur doesn’t need to be told that he needs to perform after being around for 16 years. To announce it in this way, it is quite disrespectful towards his dedication. He might be needed as a keeper in the future, so how will it look when he says no?” he added.

Competition often brings out the best in the players but it has to be healthy: Mashrafe Mortaza

Apart from Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh has the likes of Hasan and Liton Das as the other options to keep wickets. Mortaza believes completion amongst players should be healthy and not hurt an individual which creates unnecessary pressure.

“Having three wicketkeepers in one squad should have been a happy occasion, but instead it has brought on much grief. If you can’t handle this much in the team, it will create an invisible and bad competition within the team. Competition often brings out the best in the players but it has to be healthy. Not by hurting someone,” Mortaza said.

“The team management will take its own decisions, and it will be greeted with applause or abuse, that’s how it usually goes. Who will play, in what position and who will have which role, these are things that should only be in the dressing room. When these things get out, it creates unnecessary pressure on the player,” he added. 

Bangladesh are currently playing against New Zealand in a five-match T20I series and they are leading 2-1 with the fourth match scheduled to play on September 8.

Also Read: Mushfiqur Rahim To Give Up Wicket-Keeping Duties In T20Is For Bangladesh