Mashrafe to lead Dhaka Platoon in Bangabandhu BPL
He is on his way to recover from injuries and has already started training with the team.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will lead the Dhaka Platoon team during this year's Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), which begins on December 11.
The Bangladesh ODI captain had back injury and also sustained a groin injury last month. But he is on his way to recover from those injuries and has already started training with the team.
"He has talked to the physio before started bowling. He didn't feel any pain when he was bowling," Platoon coach Mohammad Salahuddin said.
"I think Mashrafe is more motivated than me and anyone else. He has been doing practice individually for the last few days to regain fitness. He has reduced his weight. He is trying to be fit. I think he is motivated to do well for himself and the team."
Mashrafe has led three BPL teams in the past and lifted the title for each of them at least once: Dhaka Gladiators in 2012 and 2013, Cumilla Victorians in 2015, and Rangpur Riders in 2017.
He, however, was not picked up directly in the last month's player draft, since he did not participate in any competitive cricket since the World Cup in July. He missed the subsequent Sri Lanka series with a hamstring injury and has not played any domestic cricket either.
Platoon eventually signed him as their second A-plus category pick, having earlier acquired Tamim Iqbal with the draft's first call.
"I think he can play the whole tournament. I hope that he will perform. The main advantage for us is his experience. We can never deny that. When he will play, he will give 100 per cent effort," Salahuddin said.