Want to play ODIs for a considerable amount of time: Mashrafe

Sport Desk: Though Bangladesh inspirational captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza retired from T20s, he hopes to keep playing ODIs for a 'considerable amount of time'.

In an interview published on ESPNcricinfo on Monday he said, "I am enjoying ODI cricket. At the same time, I think we are slowly progressing in Tests and T20s, but in ODIs, we have jumped from 10 to 7 [on the ICC rankings]. We have taken a big step. It has come up through performance of several players. I am enjoying playing ODIs and want to play for a considerable amount of time but it is hard to put a time-frame to it, especially in Bangladesh. I hope to keep playing, but if I am going through a hard time and pressure is created, then I have to come to a decision."

When asked over his first spell breakthrough in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Mashrafe said, "It depends on the bowler's confidence and ability. People blame Tamim Iqbal when he doesn't get runs but he faces two new balls in ODIs. He has the ability to take it on. In my case, [Mohammad] Shahzad hit me for a six in one of the ODIs against Afghanistan but then I got him out, caught behind. My confidence had returned. I started to feel that I was on top. I got breakthroughs against England.

As a captain and senior player, it is quite normal to take on the responsibility. I took it on confidently, and enjoyed it."

Source: ESPNcric Info
 

risingbd/Dhaka/April 11, 2017/A K Azad