Asia Cup 2018: Team Effort is Very Important - Bangladesh Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza

The runner-up in the previous edition of Asia Cup 2018, Bangladesh wants to take the things one by one. The skipper of Bangladesh Mashrafe Mortaza calls for the team effort in order to seal the coveted title in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mashrafe Mortaza always led the team with utmost passion and pulled the best out of each player. However, this time, it is a bit challenging as the respective board gave a young unit for Mortaza to lead in Asia Cup 2018.

Of course, I believe in the juniors – Mashrafe Mortaza

When asked about the young members of the team, Mortaza quoted that he completely keeps his trust in the juniors and believes that they will perform if given a long run.

In addition, Mortaza doesn’t want to call them as the juniors as he feels that they are more like themselves representing the nation in a prestigious event. However, he highlighted the fact that it is the team effort which helps to win the games.

“Of course, I believe in the juniors, and I believe that given enough opportunities they will do well. We haven’t played international cricket for a while after the West Indies tour, but there are players who did well in practice matches and we have faith in them. You cannot really call them juniors,” he quoted.

There are players other than us [the five seniors] who have played for three, five, 10 years and in international cricket you are no longer new or juniors after playing for three years. I think they too have to step up and perform. I would also like to say that the matches we have won, we won playing as a team. So that is very important for us,” he added.

Mashrafe Mortaza calls Nidahas Trophy controversy is the past:

Last time, when Bangladesh featured in Nidahas Trophy 2018, a helluva of drama took place. The players are involved in the heated exchange and the skipper Shakib Al Hasan called the players from the field as well.

Speaking of it, Mortaza said ”“You cannot bring an event from the past on the field. Honestly, those incidents do not come to mind while you are playing. The main focus is to win by playing a good game of cricket. It is not the time for us to think of any other facts, and I do not think there is the importance of this on the field.”

However, it would be interesting to see how things would pan out for Bangladesh under the leadership of Mashrafe Mortaza. They have got the required ingredients in their kitty to outsmart the big teams on their day during Asia Cup 2018.