Mashrafe: No chance of lobbying in Bangladesh team now

As a senior player, Mashrafe advised Rahi not to talk too much outsid

Photo: Collected

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe bin Murtaza has dismissed allegations by pacer Abu Zayed Rahi that there is little chance of lobbying in the Bangladesh team at the moment.

He added that at the moment there is intense competition in the fast bowling department of the country, which was the main reason for the exclusion of Rahi from the Bangladesh team.

After being dropped from the Sri Lanka Test series, Rahi expressed his displeasure and claimed that there was no one in the national team to speak for him which led to his omission.

Once considered the team's first choice pacer in the long version of cricket, Rahi was overlooked in the last two series after the emergence of pacers like Shariful Islam and Taskin Ahmed.

He was eventually dropped from the home series because chief selector Minhazul Abedin Nannu explained that as a swing bowler, Rahi had little chance of improving on the Bangladeshi wicket. Moreover, he has no raw motion, which is another reason to ignore him.

'Many think there is lobbying in the national team. There is no such opportunity here. If you act, you play. At the end of the day I keep saying that there is no place for emotions. This is a completely professional place, you have to be 100 percent professional. We have to perform, "said Mashrafe.

Rahiur Rahman Raja has been included in the squad instead of Rahi.

Mashrafe finds Rahi's omission from the national team disappointing. He believes Rahi will return to the field showing his talent again. "It is frustrating for a player. However, the Bangladesh team is now in fierce competition in fast bowling. There was fierce competition, especially in the short version, now after Taskin, Ebadat has established them in Test cricket. In the format. Shariful is also bowling well in all formats."

As a senior player, Mashrafe also advised Rahi not to talk too much outside and concentrate on the game to prove his talent. Mashrafe added, Now we have to match ourselves on the field without talking much outside. Everyone is having a bad time. Perhaps Rahi is additionally having a tough time. I think he will come back with a bang again, Mashrafe added.