The Bangladesh Cricket Board officials said on Tuesday that they were not surprised by national limited-overs captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza’s decision of retiring from Twenty20 internationals.
Mashrafee made the announcement of his retirement just before the first T20I of the two-match series against Sri Lanka at Colombo.
Chief selector Minahajul Abedin the decision was long expected for them.
‘I am not surprised with his decision,’ he said. ‘It was bound to happen some day or other considering his age and physical fitness.
‘He gave me several hints before leaving for Sri Lanka that it would be his last Twenty20 series,’ added Minhajul.
As a leader we have always expected him to lead from the front. He is not someone who takes things for granted,’ he said.
Mashrafee, who led Bangladesh during the last edition of ICC World Twenty20 tournament, will now play his final Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on April 6.
Former national skipper and current selector Habibul Bashar said it was hard to expect the fact that Mashrafee’s days are numbered.
‘I respect his decision but at the same time it is hard to accept it,’ he said.
‘I know surely there is reason behind his decision because only a player knows when it is high time to say good bye,’ he said.
‘It will be very hard to find another character like Mashrafee. He was full of fun and confidence no matter in what situation and against whom he had been playing,’ said Bashar.
Bashar praised Mashrafee for making all those comebacks after each surgery saying that it only showed the amount of willpower he carried with him.
‘Not everyone will dare what he achieved despite all those fitness issues,’ he said.
‘Every time he returned he showed that he was not ready to quit because there was something more for him to offer to the team,’ said Bangladesh’s former Test skipper.
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