Spotlight on Mashrafe
Cameras were trying to capture every possible frame of Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza from the beginning of yesterday's training session as the iconic cricketer returned to the national fold for the very first time because the World Cup in July this past year.
Mashrafe reached Sylhet on Friday afternoon, along with opener Tamim Iqbal, and attended the first training session at the Sylhet International Stadium ahead of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday.
The 36-year-old had to sit out the tour to Sri Lanka following the World Cup this past year at the eleventh hour and the Person in Parliament has since been detached from the national fold.
There was a sense of a homecoming for Bangladesh's most successful captain through the work out and the lively character was seen in his component as he pranked teammates and even had an amusing argument with Tamim over field placements.
After warming up with a few half-hearted deliveries, Mashrafe cranked up the intensity and bowled an excellent yorker to Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who was caught off-guard and somehow were able to move his feet away and survive.
Following a long session with the ball, Mashrafe took to the table in the corner of the batting nets for a discussion with head coach Russell Domingo.
Mashrafe has come into the series after Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan had strongly hinted that the series against Zimbabwe will be the cricketer's last as captain. The BCB boss also cast Mashrafe's international future into 'uncertainty', saying the veteran would need to be subject to the choice process and earn future spots in the team through performances.
According to Hassan, the board is seeking to name a new captain in a month's time, which suggests the side will dsicover a fresh leader taking charge for the one-off ODI against Pakistan in April.
Questions about Mashrafe's place in the team were raised when Bangladesh finished eighth in the 10-team World Cup and the 36-year-old picked simply a solitary wicket in eight games.
However, Mashrafe said that he wanted to continue playing and didn't give any hints over when he'd retire from international cricket. He added that if the selectors didn't consider his performances up to the mark, they could always find alternatives.
Mashrafe overlooked everything, from the BCB's try to arrange a grand send-off by arranging an ODI series at home, to the public sentiment on social media that time had come for him to retire.
Nobody can predict what's waiting for you for Mashrafe, however the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe will certainly start to see the spotlight on Bangladesh's captain fantastic -- perhaps one final time.
