Published: Feb 18, 2015, 10:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 09, 2015, 06:34 PM (IST)
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza speaks about his team’s win over Afghanistan.
Q: Mashrafe, people have spoken before this game about the learning curve of teams in their first World Cup. You haven’t played a one‑day international in Australia since 2008. So it’s pretty much changed conditions and a learning curve for you, as well, isn’t it? Are you pleased with the way you coped today?
Mashrafe Mortaza (MM): First of all, I think Afghanistan is a very good team that they are playing their first World Cup, but still, we respect them before the match, and obviously this sort of wicket we haven’t played much, but this wicket suited us. Once we looked at the wicket we hoped that we had a good start and were able to win this match.
Q: A very great opening spell today. Do you think a performance like that will be enough to trouble the Australians at the Gabba?
MM: It’s difficult to say right now, but if we can bowl like that, definitely good bowling is always good. It doesn’t matter who we’re against. Hopefully we’ll do whatever we have done today as a bowling unit. Hopefully we have to do it again and again.
Q: What is the reason behind picking up eight batsmen against Afghanistan?
MM: Maybe the first practice match we couldn’t score a lot, so just make sure that we have extra batsmen yet can bowl and also Soumya is there, so we can have four like that, that way.
Q: It seems when you go good in bowling, the team gets more motivated. So how is this? When you start well, you do good, then other players get more motivated. What is the mystery behind it?
MM: Well, it is very important. It doesn’t matter start good or who start, Rubel or Taskin. It is important for us that whenever someone comes and bowls, he has to bowl well. If we can put some pressure, wickets will come. So it doesn’t matter who is bowling and who is putting pressure. I think everyone’s job is to bowl well.
Q: This match showed how important pace bowling could be in this World Cup, and you as the senior‑most bowler on the side, what lesson would you have learned from this, and what will you be telling your bowlers for the rest of the games? What exactly is the length to bowl in Australia?
MM: As I said before that, we haven’t played much on that sort of wicket, so it was important after we come here for the practice to pick the right length, and we have some good quicks, like Rubel can bowl 140, Taskin can bowl 140, so if they can bowl with that pace in the right areas, it always can affect. Luckily they have done today, so hopefully the rest of the match they’ll do the same thing.
Q: You’re bowling at about 145, some deliveries at about 145 kilometers an hour. I think you’re about 141, 142, I’m not sure.
MM: A long way to go.
Q: Was the goal to come to Australia and bowl slightly quicker because they’re very fast pitches, and you’re going to the Gabba next week, which is traditionally one of Australia’s quickest pitches.
MM: I believe if you bowl fast and if you put the ball in the right areas, then you are effective. If you bowl fast and you can’t bowl in the right areas, you are ineffective. I think that our two guys can bowl 145. As I said before, if they should bowl in the right area, it doesn’t matter who the batsman.
Q: Are you looking forward to playing in the Gabba?
MM: Yeah, we haven’t played in Gabba, but we’ve heard it’s one of the quickest wickets in Australia. Hopefully we’ll do well, and yes, we are looking forward to it.
Courtesy: ICC
