Pace bowler Mashrafee bin Murtaza on Monday said he was eying a return to first-class cricket after nearly three years of hiatus with the forthcoming Bangladesh Cricket League, franchise-based four day tournament. Mashrafee’s last first-class appearance came with Khulna Division against Barisal Division at the National Cricket League, traditional first-class tournament in January 2014 when he picked up 2-35 in his 17 overs in the first innings.
Mashrafee did not bowl in the second innings and also did not appear any further matches of BCL or NCL, two first-class competitions of the country since that game played from January 30 to February 2, 2014.
‘I am preparing to play in the forthcoming BCL,’ Mashrafee told reporters at Mirpur on Monday. ‘I hope to play two to three matches for East Zone in the competition. I appeared for them during my last stint in the BCL,’ he said.
‘If I play for South Zone where I am supposed to being a player for Khulna Division naturally they have to chop down a batsman that I don’t want to happen,’ he said.
Mashrafee could not shine as expected in the longer format due to his frequent injuries as it allowed him to play only 54 first-class matches, including 36 Tests.
Bangladesh one-day international and Twenty20 skipper Mashrafee, who made his debut in Tests on November 8, 2001 against Zimbabwe, last played in a Test match in July 9 2009 in West Indies as injuries prevented him for taking part in the longer version cricket.
Mashrafee said he is trying to revive his first-class career in order to make a comeback in Test arena that he believes can be possible provided he can remain fit.
National selector Habibul Bashar said they are trying to develop a platform for Mashrafee to go after his dream of bowling with the red-ball at international level.
As a result BCB is trying to include him in the squad of East Zone under special consideration as he could not meet the criterion of selection by missing the last edition of NCL.
According to BCB only the top players of NCL will be selected in the following BCL, though it is not the case for Tigers most successful ODI skipper.
National head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, who arrived on Sunday after enjoying his vacation, sat with the national selectors to make plans for the forthcoming home series against England.
Hathurusinghe asked national selectors to include as many players as possible in the BCL from the 30-member preliminary camp and the ongoing High Performance unit.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said they will meet with all four franchises of BPL to sort out the issues.
‘We have a meeting with representatives of the four franchises of BCL on August 10 where we hope to sort out everything,’ said Minhajul.
‘We are also trying to include little-known pace bowler Ebadat Hossain though he is yet to appear in any form of first-class tournament but received recognition for bowling fast.’
-With New Age input
