Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazamul Hasan (2nd from left) speaks during a press briefing at his Beximco office on Sunday. — BCB photo
Mashrafee bin Murtaza will retain his captaincy of Bangladesh one-day side till 2019 World Cup, said Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hasan on Sunday, the day he arrived in Dhaka from London.
During Bangladesh’s Sri Lanka tour early in the year, Mashrafee retired from Twnety20 internationals and speculations were rife that he may quit the other format as well after the Champions Trophy.
But BCB boss, who joined ICC’s annual meeting in London, assured that the inspiring skipper will remain at the helm at least up to next World Cup.
‘We do not have any such plan,’ answered Nazmul when asked whether they have any plan to remove Mashrafee from the reign.
‘Actually we are not even thinking about this. Obviously, we have some plan for future. We want to give chance to youngsters. But there is a question, whom will these youngsters replace?
‘At this moment, our ODI squad is well balanced. Team is really doing well on the field. So we do not have any plan to change captaincy,’ added the cricket board president.
Nazmul also said that they have already made changes in the Twenty20 side and although they are not thinking about that in ODI but they are working to incorporate young blood gradually to keep up the dynamics of the side.
‘We have already made the change where it was required. We changed leadership for T20. We decided to change it by considering the facts whether Mashrafee will be able to stay fit till 2020. Sometimes we have to take some drastic measures for the sake of the team. But the decision of his retirement was his personal choice.
‘If 5-6 players go to retirement together that creates a void. Right now we are working so that we can prevent that sort of situation. We cannot afford to include five to six young players in the World Cup 2019.’
Nazmul also assured that coach Chandika Hathurusingha will also remain on his duty at least until 2019 World Cup though there was some speculation that he might join Sri Lanka.
‘Anyone can give him [Hathurusingha] such proposal. Last time in Sri Lanka tour, he expressed his willingness to be a coach of Sri Lanka cricket team. But he has not discussed with us about this matter. Similarly, we are also not interested to talk with him in such rumors.
‘At this moment, board has a contract with him until 2019 World Cup and he will stay here as a head coach of Bangladesh cricket team at least till then.’
Nazmul informed that the ICC meeting made a final decision about not to relegate a full-member side so Bangladesh do not have any worry about being relegated in the lower tier in Test cricket.
He also said that he had no worry about the direct qualification of Bangladesh in the World Cup 2019 as they are currently standing comfortably in the seventh spot with 94 points while Sri Lanka and West Indies have 91 and 76 to be respectively placed at eighth and ninth.
Hosts England and other top seven teams at the cut-off date of September 30 this year will get a direct entry in the next World Cup while the below ranked sides will play a qualifying round for the last two spots of the 10-team event.
Source: New Age
