Mashrafe ‘threatens’ to leave team hotel

Team owner denies any interference

Ending the speculations, Comilla Victorians captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took the field to lead side against Dhaka Dynamites in BPL-4 match yesterday. He is believed to play the match after lot of back stage discussion.
News spread in the morning of the match that Mashrafe decided to leave the hotel as he was pressurized by the team management to field the playing eleven according to their choice.
Mashrafe only withdrew from his stance when the franchise owners called him and apologised for their behaviour and agreed not to interfere furthermore.
It is learnt the debate started centering Pakistan recruit Sohail Tanvir whom the owner wanted to drop. But Mashrafe wasn’t keen to make the bowler who took three for 19 in the last match against Khulna Titans to raise a prospect of his team’s victory, sit out.
This sparked the debate which at one stage turned out to be ugly, prompting Mashrafe to leave the hotel.
Apparently Victorians management are also raising questions over his captaincy as they believed that he is not putting his best that he had offered in the previous editions to guide them to the title.
Sources said, Mashrafe only walked out of the hotel when he failed to make them understand that their present approach is putting a lot of pressure on the young cricketers.
As he walked out of the team hotel, his participation against Dynamites was put in doubts but uncertainty removed after lot of back stage drama and discussion after which he decided to join back in afternoon.
“This kind of misunderstanding could happen in franchise cricket,” Mashrafe said adding that the extent of it was not that much that somebody needs to be panicked.
“When a team is in losing streak, it could happen but as players our job is to concentrate on our games.”
It is learnt Mashrafe was unhappy with the squad from the beginning as his insistence of picking a bowling all-rounder- Andre Russel or Dwane Bravo- was put down out rightly.
Mashrafe said that he is still having that lacking that he feels cannot be filled with the present lot in the squad.
“Certainly there is such a lacking. We have either batsmen or bowlers but a genuine all-rounder is missing somewhere. But we have to play with our available resources and I am sure everything is not gone with three defeat,” he insisted.
Victorians owner AHM Mustafa Kamal shrugged off allegations regarding their interference and said they have full confidence in their skipper. “It is all rubbish[ allegation of interference],” Kamal told the reporters.
“We have full confidence in our skipper and there is no way we can interfere in his team selection because we are totally aware that he is capable enough to choose the best,” he added.
Kamal said that they were putting their suggestions in front of Mashrafe on some cases but that does not imply they are forcing him to take any decision.
“As franchise owners we were putting our suggestion,” said Kamal regarding their insistence to drop Tanvir. “If we had put pressure he would have been dropped,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that we are not clicking as a team but that don’t have anything to do with Mashrafe,” he informed.

 

Mashrafe threatens to leave team hotel

Team owner denies any interference

Ending the speculations, Comilla Victorians captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took the field to lead side against Dhaka Dynamites in BPL-4 match yesterday. He is believed to play the match after lot of back stage discussion. News spread in the morning of the match that Mashrafe decided to leave the hotel as he was pressurized by the team management to field the playing eleven according to their choice. Mashrafe only withdrew from his stance when the franchise owners called him and apologised for their behaviour and agreed not to interfere furthermore. It is learnt the debate started centering Pakistan recruit Sohail Tanvir whom the owner wanted to drop. But Mashrafe wasnt keen to make the bowler who took three for 19 in the last match against Khulna Titans to raise a prospect of his teams victory, sit out. This sparked the debate which at one stage turned out to be ugly, prompting Mashrafe to leave the hotel. Apparently Victorians management are also raising questions over his captaincy as they believed that he is not putting his best that he had offered in the previous editions to guide them to the title. Sources said, Mashrafe only walked out of the hotel when he failed to make them understand that their present approach is putting a lot of pressure on the young cricketers. As he walked out of the team hotel, his participation against Dynamites was put in doubts but uncertainty removed after lot of back stage drama and discussion after which he decided to join back in afternoon. This kind of misunderstanding could happen in franchise cricket, Mashrafe said adding that the extent of it was not that much that somebody needs to be panicked. When a team is in losing streak, it could happen but as players our job is to concentrate on our games. It is learnt Mashrafe was unhappy with the squad from the beginning as his insistence of picking a bowling all-rounder- Andre Russel or Dwane Bravo- was put down out rightly. Mashrafe said that he is still having that lacking that he feels cannot be filled with the present lot in the squad. Certainly there is such a lacking. We have either batsmen or bowlers but a genuine all-rounder is missing somewhere. But we have to play with our available resources and I am sure everything is not gone with three defeat, he insisted. Victorians owner AHM Mustafa Kamal shrugged off allegations regarding their interference and said they have full confidence in their skipper. It is all rubbish[ allegation of interference], Kamal told the reporters. We have full confidence in our skipper and there is no way we can interfere in his team selection because we are totally aware that he is capable enough to choose the best, he added. Kamal said that they were putting their suggestions in front of Mashrafe on some cases but that does not imply they are forcing him to take any decision. As franchise owners we were putting our suggestion, said Kamal regarding their insistence to drop Tanvir. If we had put pressure he would have been dropped, he said. It is unfortunate that we are not clicking as a team but that dont have anything to do with Mashrafe, he informed.