Harish Kotian in Chittagong
Mashrafe Mortaza is Bangladesh's 'Mr Cricket' since the last two seasons. He's done everything asked of him, at times even beyond the unthinkable.
Who would have imagined that a 22-year-old from Bangladesh would end up as the highest wicket-taker in One-Day Internationals in 2006?
Mortaza played a key role in Bangladesh's dream run at the recent World Cup as they shocked top teams like India and South Africa en route to the Super Eights.
"Victories against South Africa and India helped a lot. Bangla cricket is changing. If you beat top teams like India it's going to give a great boost to domestic cricket. Everyone is thinking positively, and professionalism too is coming into our cricket. Every young cricketer wants to graduate from age-group cricket and play international cricket. That is a good sign," says Mortaza.
On Monday, he again proved his value to the team with a career-best knock of 79 in the first innings of the first Test against India in Chittagong. It saved Bangladesh the ignominy of following-on. The brave effort came after a 4 for 97 haul on a lifeless pitch against the top-rated Indian batting attack.
Also dubbed the 'Narail Express' because he hails from the district of Narail, situated alongside the Chitra river in south-west Bangladesh, Mortaza's introduction to cricket was sudden.
"My division team, Mohammadan Sporting, fell short of a fast bowler in a game and my grandfather requested me to play the game; my grandmother also told me to go and play. I played that match and took six wickets.
"That performance got me selected to divisional under-17 in Dhaka and [Sri Lankan] Malcolm Pereira was the coach at that time. He helped me reach till the 'A' team. I took 16 wickets from four matches in India later for the 'A' team and the selectors called me for national team," he recalled.
He also remembers his stint with former West Indies fast bowling great Andy Roberts at the start of his career and during the just-concluded World Cup.
"Andy Roberts helped me a lot when I was playing under-17 cricket when he came down here for three weeks. That time everybody was telling me to change the action, but Roberts told me not to change action because I will lose my natural pace and swing. It benefited me a lot. He also helped me in the World Cup in the West Indies. I was struggling with my run-up and he helped me get my rhythm back," Mortaza said.
He credited current coach Dav Whatmore for his rise in international cricket and is disappointed that the Australian will be not be available at the end of the ongoing Test series against India.
"Everybody feels sad that Dav Whatmore is quitting after the Test series. He has been a positive influence on us and Bangladesh cricket in general. He taught us to remain positive all the time," he said.
Mortaza still remembers the embarrassment when he gave away 17 runs in the final over in a match against Zimbabwe, which Bangladesh lost. "But Whatmore," he says, "was the first person to come up to him and offer encouragement.
"That incident will always stay fresh in my mind.
"Personally, I have benefited very much. Once in a match against Zimbabwe they needed 17 runs from one over and I gave it and it was a huge disappointment for me. I was thinking all sorts of negative things and Dav called me and said, 'This is just a game and you can learn a lot of things from this game; don't take it too negatively; think positively.'
Injuries have been a constant problem for Mortaza ever since he made his debut in international cricket in November 2001. Twice he went under the surgeon's knife to get his knee in shape and there have also been back injuries and the ankle injuries.
In a short career, he has already seen a lifetime of injuries.
"When I started I thought that raw pace will earn me a lot of wickets. But when got I injured I lost a bit of pace and that made me to think about other ways to get wickets than just hustle the batsmen with pace. I found that if I can bowl in the right areas I can earn wickets and every batsman will respect me," he says.
"Last two years have been good for me in terms of fitness. Now I work a lot with my trainer and physio. Before that I had injuries to the ligament in my left knee, and I had to visit Hosmat hospital in Bangalore eight times. But these days I am working a lot with my physio to keep myself fit and it is paying off," Mortaza adds.
Playing against India seems to motivate him a bit more. One wicket he loves the most is that of Virender Sehwag, whom he has already dismissed a few times now.
"I like to bowl against Sehwag, not just because I got his wicket a few times; it is also a challenge to bowl against a batsman like Sehwag. My strategy is to bowl against Sehwag on the fourth stump [outside the off-stump], and it worked well for me in the past. The advantage is that sometimes he can edge those deliveries or I can set him up for an incoming delivery later on," he says.
But not every time does things go according to plan. Mortaza says he also has to be ready for some stick, since Sehwag is capable of getting back.
"But this is not to say that I can get Sehwag easily. He is also not in good form these days; that factor also helped me a bit. When he is in form you have to be really careful with the line you bowl to him."
The fast bowler has high regard for the Indian batting stars and says bowling against them is a learning experience each time.
"Sachin [Tendulkar], [Sourav] Ganguly, [Rahul] Dravid and [VVS] Laxman are big names in international cricket. You will have to give hundred per cent against them and on your day anything is possible. You have to be more than hundred per cent, mentally and physically, against these batsmen. You cannot offer them any sort of chances; if you give them little freedom they will take you to the cleaners. So you have to maintain pressure constantly," says Mortaza.
The high of the World Cup was followed by the lows of the ODI series defeat at home to India.
"Losing to India in the one-day series was a bit disappointing. India is a professional and big cricketing side. We could not perform as consistently in all areas as we desired, but it did not happen that way in this series, but such things cannot be avoided in international cricket," he said after losing the ODI series.
He assured his fans that Bangladesh are well prepared for Tests, even though they are playing after a gap of 14 months.
"We are well-prepared for the Test series. That we have not played 14 months of Test cricket could be a problem for us, but the team is very motivated after some good performances in the one-dayers recently.
Everyone is looking in good touch and we are an eager bench. As I said, India is a very big cricketing nation and one or two loses do not mean that everything is over; to think like that is not a good sign."
Mortaza is already a huge superstar in Bangladesh and attracts attention wherever he goes. But his favourite place is still Narail, where he can roam with gay abandon, savouring all the love of his fans.
His favourite past time is taking a dip in the Chitra river in Narail.
"I used to swim with my brother on my back in the river in Narail. That was not for cricket; I loved swimming and I swim even now when I go back to Narail. I love soccer, badminton and table tennis too," he says.
The people of Narail also love their hero a lot.
"Narail people want to see in action all the time. They don't love to see cricket without me when Bangladesh is playing. Everyone keeps saying 'you play for another 10 years,' and gives a lot of support to me. That really means a lot to me," he says.
It's not only Narail, but the whole of Bangladesh that Mortaza wants to delight with his performances.
Having made it to the Super Eights in the 2007 World Cup, he now believes the team can go all the way at the next tournament, which Bangladesh will jointly host with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in four years.
