Team-mates paid a rich tribute to Mashrafee bin Murtaza on Thursday after he announced to step down as Bangladesh one-day international captain with today’s third and final match of the three-match series in Sylhet.
Mashrafee ended speculation about his future by making the much-awaited announcement, which, though, not very unexpected, bought a gloom at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, with senior player Mushfiqur Rahim leading the tribute.
‘There is no replacement to Mashrafee Bhai. He is a part of the family. He is not only an elder brother to us but a big part of it. I will miss him as a captain,’ Mushfiq said before acknowledging the transformation Mashrafee brought to the team.
Mashrafee took over from Mushfiq in 2014 when Bangladesh were struggling to become even a decent outfit and he transformed it as a winning team, leading the team to the quarter-finals in the 2015 World Cup and series wins over Pakistan, India and South Africa in the same year.
‘Our team had seen a big change since he took charge as captain not only on the field but also off the field too,’ Mushfiq said of Mashrafee, who led the Tigers to 49 wins in 87 matches, the highest by any Bangladeshi captain.
‘I will hope he will continue playing till he can. It is an experience in itself to play with him and under him. I hope he will be able to give more to Bangladesh cricket in future,’ said Mushfiq.
Mahmudullah, who is widely expected to take over from Mashrafee, also praised his captaincy and wished Mashrafee best of luck, terming pacer as one of the legends of the game for Bangladesh.
‘I have enjoyed a lot playing under him not only because he has been a fantastic captain but also because he has been a friend and a brother,’ said Mahmudullah. ‘It has been six years he took charge and Mashallah a lot of success for the team. I wish him luck for his future.’
Opener Tamim Iqbal, who once said he would remain forever grateful to Mashrafee for giving him the strength and courage during his bad time in 2015, hoped the player would be given his due honour in his post-cricket life.
‘It is tough to express Mashrafee bhai in words,’ said Tamim, who Mashrafee helped transform as world’s one of the finest batsmen during his heydays as captain from 2015-2019.
‘The cricketers, cricket board and the supporters should never forget his contribution for Bangladesh cricket. He should remain with us all the time,’ said Tamim.
‘We were at a stage in 2015 and then got lifted till 2019 led by him. The way we are treated in ODI around the world now it has become possible just because of him,’ he said.
‘It is impossible to forget what he has done for me and for us. I will wish him luck and will hope will get to see him more as a player,’ Tamim said.
Mashrafee’s fellow pacer Mustafizur Rahman felt sad after hearing the announcement that the player was ending his reign as captain.
‘I am sad since I heard about it [his decision to step down]. I do not have words to express bhai [Mashrafe]. He was the one who got me into the team. It is a sad day for all of us,’ said Mustafiz.
Top-order batsman Liton Das, who made his debut under Mashrafee, termed him as the ‘best captain’ Bangladesh have ever had.
‘I will definitely miss him. He is the best captain we had in Bangladesh. You cannot express the support that he has been to cricket especially to the juniors,’ said Liton.
‘I made my debut under him so it was a big achievement for me. He was always besides me and I saw him in supporting every newcomer.’
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