![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSe9rWgdj1Ke9SDHemocDur3dKBVjk7tAidY9LzRTiJxW/image.png) [Mashrafe Bin Mortuza](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mashrafe_Mortaza_02.jpg) *** In the year 2000, the divisional team named 'Khulna Tigers' went to Dhaka to play in the Under-17 Divisional Championship. A boy named Kaushik from Narail got a chance in that team. That boy who not only plays bowls but also hits the ball very hard. He could hit a huge six, which was his main job, but he could also bowl at high speed. He performed well for Khulna Tigers in that under-17 stage. A few days later he was called to the trial of the under-17 national team. He went to Dhaka and successfully pass the trial. *** ![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQUmgdtLRWLFm8tTudmK1yBqhmZHaAS9v2UmtDYbpUuvF/image.png) _{[Source](https://www.behance.net/gallery/43725705/Mashrafe-Desktop-Wallpaper?tracking_source=search_projects_recommended%7CMashrafe)} *** In 2001, he was called up to the Under-17s and in the same year, he played in the Under-19s and Bangladesh 'A' team. After playing fast under-17 to under-19, he also went on tour to India for the Bangladesh 'A' team. In India, he made a storm of speed in every match, even the dead wickets he shook the opposing batsmen. In the meantime in a match, He was bowling against a batsman in Mumbai and he broke the grill of his helmet by his bowling. When they saw it, they were saying with fun, > "You give Kaushik to us, if necessary, take one batsman from here." During that tour, India's influential cricket administrator and chairman of the national team selection committee Chandrakant Gulabrao, alias Chandu Borde, was thrilled to see a Bangladeshi boy take a storm at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. He said on Mashrafe, > "You got an amassed great wealth. This boy will make a great impact in the world of cricket one day." Then he quickly made his debut in the national team. In 2001, It was a golden age of Zimbabwe cricket. In that time Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh and Mashrafe Bin Mortuza got the Test cap in that test series. Mashrafe Bin Mortuza, the first genuine fast bowler of Bangladesh cricket, played his first Tests as one of the rare cricketers in the world without playing any first-class match. *** ![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeqvz1RJj9NiTcMp6SWxv5AEnEfjSDJZmUp5hCR7fSUhG/image.png) _{[Source](https://www.behance.net/gallery/51209043/Mashrafe-Bin-Mortaza-desktop-mobile-profile-cover?tracking_source=search_projects_recommended%7CMashrafe)} *** If any resource is over-used, it will eventually erode, reducing its effectiveness. This simple fact was not understood by the management of the then Bangladesh Cricket Board or pretended not to understand. Andy Roberts advised on Mashrafe, not to play him in Tests or the national team without playing any first-class matches at the age of 17-18. He also said that if there is any special talent, then it can be different. But he must be taken care of, and be careful.

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWw2iu8WU2DkwwZqhAruYPDKfNudy4kLMn8qHk5Z8nWno/image.png) _{[Source](https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mashrafe_Mortaza,_2019.jpg)}

He had mild back pain after playing in the 'A' team against India. He did not recover well and was played in the series against Zimbabwe. He started the storm of speed and bowled great bowling throughout the whole series. As he was bowling very well so He was given extra spells in every match. The pain increased a little more at the end of that series. However, he was taken on a tour of New Zealand. He has bowled a lot of long spells in the first Test. As he was bowling very well, he had given more spells to bowl. The pain increased further. It was planned not to play him in the second Test, the media also said that he would be rested. But then the coach Trevor Chappell and physio John Gloucester played at will. As a result, he was injured in the Test for the first time in his life. He returned to the country with a back injury. The way a cricketer is taken care of nowadays, maximum assistance is given for rehabilitation in case of injury, it was not done in that period. After returning from there he went to his home in Narail and started rehabilitation work. By following the instructions of doctor's he was doing various exercises including skipping. But who knew, this skipping would be for tomorrow? ***

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmatkgCWingMZ8fvfRKvsrnqNcK175ts5WbefbsT9AXh9P/image.png) _{[Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mashrafe_Mortaza_03.jpg)}

One day while skipping, suddenly the rope got twisted in his legs. He fell down. There is a sound came out and he cringed in pain. Everyone came towards him and taken care of him. After a while he feels a little better, everyone forgets about the pain. It was like, nothing happened. But Mashrafe sometimes feels pain in his knees. The next time he went to Bangalore for a follow-up of back pain, he told the doctor about the pain. The doctor did an MRI. The bad news came in the MRI report, one of his knee ligaments had been torn. Although he did not have any knowledge about this ligament, he only knew that an operation would have to be performed. Surgery is the only way to fix it. But he had a lot of fear of surgery. So his father was with him at the time of surgery. After returning home the rehabilitation process started, again and again, the waiting to get back in the game increased. That which started then continues like this. A total of seven major operations were performed on both knees, each time he returned with great pomp to surprise everyone.

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNd6GnTCpUo2Z947x5XUmZrg79QSeNoDiD5FKzM1CP2CP/image.png) _{[Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mashrafe_2016_(2).jpg)}

Just like the phoenix bird. Even David Young, the Australian doctor who performed all the operations except one, was fascinated by the strange vitality of this Man. He thinks of Mashrafe as an infinite source of inspiration.

Repeated injuries have taken away his best times and slowed down his pace. Yet he has come back again and again. Injuries made him 'unfit' to play Tests, but fate gave him the responsibility of replacing a team with a new captain. In 2014, when the Bangladesh team went into the losing circle again, losing close matches, even certain winning matches, the team could not beat the second-tier team of India, then again he was given the responsibility of captaining the limited-overs cricket. The team changed under his great leadership. Became irresistible on the home field. It is more or less successful abroad. >"*' One of the Greatest Motivators. No one knows better than him how to keep a team, a group strong in any situation. Being around him means he'll keep you entertained. '*"

__ Shakib Al Hasan
_{World Number One ODI all-rounder cricketer
and Captain of Bangladesh ODI Team}

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPPX8crHZeDUnh5mKpMiUZJSdEB4CsuhsehyQLEMMx6rF/image.png) _{[Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mashrafe_and_Shakib.jpg)}

Though the pace slowed down, he led the team from the front in tactical bowling. Although many have complained about him that he was playing in the 'captain quota', but statistics show that no one has taken more wickets than him during his tenure as captain except Mostafiz. He even showed the rare feat of taking 100 wickets as a captain. Earlier, only four cricketers in the world were able to achieve this. Not only that, he is still the highest wicket-taker of the Bangladesh team in ODIs (270). Which is wonderful for a spin-dependent team! #### Conclusions Even before the 2019 World Cup, he was the best fast bowler in Bangladesh during his captaincy, at least the statistics say so. Not only bowling but also batting, he has won many matches for the team. His short cameo innings played at crucial times have saved the Tigers many times. It can be said that Bangladesh has been deprived of a true all-rounder only due to lack of care and a terrible handful of injuries. Like many cricketers, cricketers like Habibul Bashar and Shakib Al Hasan still regret it. *** ||Reference Sites| |-|-| |1|[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashrafe_Mortaza)| |2|[Mashrafe.Cricket](https://www.mashrafe.cricket/en/mashrafe-story/)| |3|[Espncricinfo](http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/56007.html)