Mushfiqur Rahim’s tenure as captain of the Bangladesh national cricket team was extended till December 31 this year after a board meeting on Wednesday. Mushfiq spoke to reporters on Thursday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on a number of issues, such as captaincy, match-fixing and
the home series against New Zealand in October.These are the some of the excerpts:
Question: Will the captaincy issue be a more challenging prospect than the last time around?
Mushfiqur Rahim: I am happy that the board [Bangladesh Cricket Board] has kept their faith in me. I tried to work with total commitment when I was the skipper and hope to continue in the same manner.
I don’t think it will be a huge challenge because there is only one series. We will try to carry on with consistent performances. During the Zimbabwe series we did not perform according to our expectations, but the players have been working very hard for the last month. They are very inspired to continue at it.
Question: Are you viewing the challenge of captaincy as a one-off only for this series or as something more than that?
Mushfiq: The board is not looking beyond the series, so it doesn’t matter whether I look at the bigger picture or not. There is only one series in the next five months. I will give my one hundred percent as a captain and as an individual. I hope the whole team will give their best and are one hundred percent committed.
Question: Do you think Bangladesh will have an added advantage over New Zealand, who was white-washed the last time they toured and is comparatively weak at the moment?
Mushfiq: It’s not that they are weak. They recently beat England in England. Therefore I think that they are similar to us in terms of the ups and downs. They are also a dangerous unit. The last time they were here we played good cricket. That is why they lost. There is no alternative to playing good cricket this time too. We have to work extremely hard. Obviously there will be a lot of expectations and we have to play well to beat them.
Question: You are playing well and also leading the team admirably. Are you hoping that your tenure will be extended?
Mushfiq: Let’s see. My only thinking right now is reserved for the New Zealand series. I will try to be content with this.
Question: The coach, Shane Jurgensen, was rewarded with a long-term contract. Don’t you think the captaincy term should also have been extended?
Mushfiq: It is a vulnerable situation for any cricketer. If one doesn’t know how long he will remain captain then it is very tough for him to set a goal. In that sense I would say it will be very challenging to uphold the role of captaincy going series to series, not only for me, but for whoever comes after me. As far as the coach is concerned, I congratulated him yesterday [Wednesday]. This is a huge achievement. Now he can set a goal and work towards that. Whoever is chosen as the next captain, I would hope he is provided with a long tenure so that he can work with a goal.
Question: Will you talk with the board about extending your term to the 2015 ICC World Cup?
Mushfiq: I can never present a proposal like that. If I am capable and if they [BCB] think I am a deserving candidate they might give me an offer. Whether or not I will continue in my post is a story for another day. This is obviously a big opportunity, and I think that for the betterment of Bangladesh cricket, a captain should get a long term. That way they can set a goal for themselves. The team will also benefit. I hope it will happen in the future.
Question: You recently said that your decision to step down from captaincy in Zimbabwe was an emotional one. Do you think you should be engrossed with emotions as a captain?
Mushfiq: Our entire nation is emotional and it is through emotions that we can achieve everything. That said, too much of anything is not good. Perhaps I did that. That was a mistake and I realised it later. Question: After two-and-a-half years as captain, do you think the skipper also has a role to play off the field?
Mushfiq: Of course. I think cricket is the only game where a captain has a role to play off the field. I have been trying to perform that responsibility even before I was chosen as the captain. Incidents off the field affect the happenings on the field.
A lot of people are praying for us. The players should try to be devoted in whatever they do. I have tried to do these little things right. Hopefully I can also do it in the future.
Question: Do you think it is an extra burden reminding the players about the threats related to match-fixing?
Mushfiq: No one here is from the Under-13s or Under-14s. I don’t think I have to warn them about the consequences all that much. We know we represent our country and our parents always pray for us. When one thinks about his family, the lure of match-fixing should never rise. There is no need to remind them separately, but as a team we always say to each other that we should always stay far away from it.
Question: Do you think you have extra responsibility now?
Mushfiq: Yes, obviously. Not only I, but the organisers, management and the board should all take extra responsibility. That includes journalists.
-With New Age input
