The return of paceman Mashrafee bin Murtaza to competitive cricket hardly impressed coach Jamie Siddons despite the injury-prone bowler performing decently in his comeback match for Abahani in the Dhaka Premier League on Saturday.
Mashrafee bowled all 10 overs of his quota to return with a wicket conceding 55 runs and also took two key catches in what was the title decider of the league against their bitter rivals Mohammedan SC.
But Siddons gave little importance to his performance and at the same time was sceptical about the pace he generated. He also refused to pay any attention to the bowler who is not a part of the World Cup squad.
‘Mashrafee is unfit, so I am not really worried about him at the moment,’ said Siddons after the practice session on Sunday.
‘I’ve got three fast bowlers in my squad. I’m not worried about anyone who’s outside the squad. I am worried about Nazmul, Rubel and Shafiul,’ he said.
‘Club cricket is very different from international cricket. There are far better batsmen playing [international cricket] and the wickets are far better. International cricket is a different ball game altogether,’ said Siddons.
He also ruled out the chances of Mashrafee coming straight into the Bangladesh team, even if he is totally fit, for the upcoming World Cup as there are other equations which he needs to meet to make an entry.
‘Mash is outside the squad. There are three fast bowlers in the team that we are worried about. Mash needs to keep doing his recovery, and it is going really well. I hope he’s fit by the World Cup, then he has to put his hands up to be a replacement, otherwise there’s no chance,’ said Siddons.
‘He has injuries and if he will get fit by the World Cup, it’s fantastic. At the moment he is still in recovery. I am only worried about the 15 players that are in the squad,’ said Siddons.
