DHAKA: Bangladesh’s ODI and T20I captain Mashrafe Mortaza announced his retirement from T20 internationals at the toss of the first T20I between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh R Premadasha stadium in Colombo Tuesday (April 4).

Mashrafe said to Dean Jones during the toss: “This is going to be my last T20 series for Bangladesh. I would like to thank BCB, my family and friends, team-mates and coaching staff. I would also like to thank my fans who really supported me in the last 15-16 years.”

Earlier the Narail Express wrote on his Facebook page, “It has been a great honor for me to represent Bangladesh in T20I for more than 10 years. I believe that this team is currently a balanced one & there are some promising young stars.

“I am very much grateful to Bangladesh cricket board & high officials for keeping the trust on me to lead this fantastic team. I am also immensely grateful to my loving fans, family, and friends to support me all the time. There were some bad & some good days as well.

“I always tried to make my fans happy. I am very sorry to each and every fan for not being able to make them happy in every match. Right now as a team we are playing good cricket. I am sure Bangladesh will keep on playing good cricket in the days to come.

“This is high time for me to say good-bye to T20 format so that many youngsters can get the opportunity to showcase their talent and thus BCB can nurture them for the future. Let me congratulate the new Captain in advance & I am sure the best is yet to come.

See you soon, Love!”

Mashrafe, 34, has played 52 matches so far and has taken 39 wickets and scored 368-run. He also has lead the tigers in 26 matches so far and won nine.

He, however, will continue as the ODI captain.

BDST: 2143 HRS, APR 04, 2017
SR