Bangladesh will play against Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series which is starting on Sunday and all eyes will be on the experienced fast bowler and captain Mashrafe Mortaza. He has not played since the team’s final match at the 2019 World Cup and Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hassan had given a hint that this could be the last time that the 36-year-old leads the team.

In a pre-match press conference, Mashrafe Mortaza was irked when he was asked if his form at the World Cup made him feel ashamed where he gave a fitting reply to the reporters.

“Why will I be ashamed? Am I a thief?” said Mashrafe. “Do I steal on the ground? Am I a thief? I actually can not relate things like ‘self-respect’ or ‘being ashamed’ with playing cricket.”

“There are people who steal and cheat; aren’t they ashamed of what they are doing? Only I have to feel ashamed if I do not get wickets in a game? Am I a thief?,” he asked angrily to the reporters.

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“I might not get wickets and then all of your personnel and also my fans can criticize and talk about it. But why would I have to be ashamed of it? Am I not playing for Bangladesh? Or am I playing for any other country that I must be ashamed of my performance? If I can not perform then they can drop me — it is that simple,” he told.

The ODI series will take place entirely in Sylhet while the second game will be played on Tuesday and the third one on Friday as well. This series will be followed by a two-match Twenty20 International series as well which will be played in Dhaka.