Mashrafe passes fitness test

Four out of five teams participating in the ongoing Bangabandhu T20 Cup have expressed their interest to rope in Mashrafe Bin Mortaza whose name was not there in the players' draft originally. But he had to pass the fitness test to become eligible to participate in the tournament. The former captain has done it and now it is up to the  Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to decide which team he will play for.

Mashrafe himself confirmed the news to The Business Standard (TBS). Tushar Kanti Hawlader, the fitness trainer of the BCB, has also echoed Mashrafe's words but none of them disclosed the score.

Regarding this, Mashrafe told TBS, "I am in a good shape in terms of fitness. I gave the test today (Sunday) arranged by the BCB. I underwent the Covid-19 screening as well. The results will come out tomorrow. I have been told that the team I will play for will be decided by the BCB."

Tushar Kanti Hawlader stated, "Mashrafe gave the fitness test today. His fitness looked very good. Match fitness is a different thing though. But I don't think there is a problem. He is now eligible to play. Now the BCB will decide how his team will be finalised."

Fortune Barishal were the first team to show interest in Mashrafe. They applied to the BCB on December 1. Then Gemcon Khulna showed their interest publicly and applied to acquire Tigers' ex-ODI skipper a few days later. Minister Group Rajshahi and Beximco Dhaka are the latest teams to join the race to acquire Mashrafe.