Mashrafe Mortaza: The Pole Star of Bangladesh Cricket

A Featured Article on Mashrafe Mortaza by Karthik Narayan

The last two years in retrospect have seen so many talented cricketers come to the forefront and stamp their gloveprints on the bat or their fingerprints on the ball – either way a hero emerged every time we, the people, wanted one! And when minnows Bangladesh looked at one for themselves to smile upon to bring a victory, along came a chappie by name Mashrafe Bin Mortaza!

Playing for one’s country is indeed something to be proud of, and also an honour for the self – Mortaza had his share on the cricketing podium on November 8, 2001, when he made his test debut against Zimbabwe at the Bangabandhu Stadium, Dhaka along with Khaled Mahmud. When he walked in to bat as a late order batsman, the team was in dire straits and the debutant could do nothing but watch his side make a paltry 107 all out in less than 50 overs, Travis Friend breathing fire with a five wicket haul. But when the 18-year-old Mortaza got a grip on the red cherry, (he is a right arm medium pace bowler), after a hot opening burst, he spelled out Grant Flower to get his first test scalp. Zimbabwe were in a spot of bother then, and when Mortaza got rid of Stuart Carlisle at 60-4, it seemed that bangaldesh would make a match of it. But not to be! Good knocks from Wishart, Streak, Friend tagged Zimbabwe on to a good total. Bangladesh managed to draw the test. Mortaza ended up with 4 wickets on debut – the journey of international cricket had started for this teen!

This 21 year old’s career record is not international standard, in 14 tests till date (Jan 2005) he has 34 test wickets at an average of 36.11. His batting has just kicked off, hes the late order batsman who likes to belt the ball to all parts of the park. He is not your average Super All Rounder or anything. He is just another good cricketer who wants to prove himself against all odds and all teams. Similarly, ever since his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on November 23, 2001 at Chittagong, where he got his best bowling of 2-26, he has been pretty impressive spearheading the bowling for Bangladesh.

This youngster born in Norail, Khulna in Bangladesh is a good ODI prospect, with a relatively decent record of 14 ODIs, Highest score of 39 (against India recently), and 15 wickets with the cricket ball. Pretty decent to start off, by any means.

When India toured Bangladesh in Dec 2004, this youngster stood tall and bowled well at the top half of the opposition batsmen and then at the death, he has been maturing as a cricketer. This Indian tour helped him gauge himself against some of the best batsmen in the game. And he did ever so well, making runs, and getting wickets at regular intervals in both the two tests and the three ODIs. In fact, India just scraped through in the first ODI and then that magnificent win in the second ODI was purely thanks to this young man. After scoring a sublime, aggressive cameo innings of 31*, he came on to bowl the Bangladeshis to a famous win at Dhaka with two good wickets.

He looks good material to go along for Bangladesh in the years to come, most certainly my Bangladeshi of the year 2004 along with Mohammed Ashraful. Together these cricketers have been the backbone of the Bangladesh team, which is looking rather fresh with the induction of fresh young blood.

Even as I write, the smiles are back on the faces of many a Bangladeshi and it is mainly due to the impact of the young blood like Mortaza in the team. With sharp incisive bowling, blitzkriegs at the slog overs and steadfast improving fielding, this young man has changed the fortunes for this underdog team.

Believe me; this cricketer has it in him to make Bangladesh stand tall alongside the Top Dogs of the cricketing world. As much as it delights cricket fans in Bangladesh and all around the world, watch out world, a bit of hard work and commitment – and one might expect this team to give a Giant or two more than a surprise in the years to come! Here’s wishing that the New Year brings in more success and joy to Mortaza and the entire Bangladesh team.