"Level where Imran has reached, people cannot always reach there even if they want to" : M Mortaza

[shaaik]

"Level where Imran has reached, people cannot always reach there even if they want to" : M Mortaza

There is expected to be no opposition from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, according to AFP

Mashrafe Mortaza, the most-capped Bangladesh cricketer in ODIs, will stand in next month’s election, an Awami League spokesperson announced Monday.

The current ODI captain and country’s leading wicket-taker in the format has been endorsed by the ruling party’s leader and Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mortaza and Hasina - seeking a third consecutive term in office on December 30 - were photographed together recently and the image was front-page headlines on many Bangladesh newspapers today.

“He plans to contest from Narail,” said spokesman Mahbubul Alam Hanif, referring to Mashrafe’s hometown district in western Bangladesh, though the hugely popular allrounder, 35, has said nothing publicly.

There is expected to be no opposition from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, with spokesman Jalal Yunus telling AFP: “To run in an election is his constitutional right. If he wants to exercise these rights, we have no issue. We expect him to keep the balance between his playing career and politics.”

“I may be wrong, but this is the worst decision of his life,” one fan, Omar Faruq, wrote on Mortaza’s fan page on Facebook.

In 197 ODIs dating back to his debut in 2001, Mortaza has claimed 252 wickets to occupy top spot in Bangladesh’s all-time bowling table. The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England looms as his last assignment for Bangladesh.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...ts-mashrafe-mortazas-foray-in-politics-764446

 

[Saj]

I wonder if the likes of Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan will eventually end up in politics in Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

Think Imran Khan's success making some of these guys think they can do it too.

 

[shaaik]

A very good role-model both on and off the field who the young Bangladeshi's can look up-to. I hope he would have as good a political career as his cricketing career though I despise the party that he has chosen to be affiliated with.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Not a fan of sportspersons/celebs directly getting election tickets, service in public life or local level politics must be a prerequisite. Film star politicians have already ruined my state.

Think Imran Khan's success making some of these guys think they can do it too.

Without the ground work if I may say so, Imran was already deeply involved in public life in the form of philanthropy, construction of cancer hospital etc.

 

[DeadBall]

I wonder if the likes of Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan will eventually end up in politics in Pakistan.

Afridi is already on his way, first starting a charity, being part of the literacy drive, talking politics re the Kashmir issue. Will most likely join PTI when he finally retires.

 

[DeadBall]

Think Imran Khan's success making some of these guys think they can do it too.

Many other cricketers have also done it too like Sachin, Azharuddin, Sidhu, Gambhir, Ranatunga, Jayasurya etc.

 

[MenInG]

Many other cricketers have also done it too like Sachin, Azharuddin, Sidhu, Gambhir, Ranatunga, Jayasurya etc.

Not to the level of IK.

 

[cric_man]

Not a fan of sportspersons/celebs directly getting election tickets, service in public life or local level politics must be a prerequisite. Film star politicians have already ruined my state.



Without the ground work if I may say so, Imran was already deeply involved in public life in the form of philanthropy, construction of cancer hospital etc.

^^^ IK spent over 20 years actively working on philanthropic causes building and running hospitals and university.

 

[Abdullah719]

Bangladesh cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza defends decision to join politics

Mashrafe Mortaza, who will be contesting the upcoming Bangladesh general elections, defended his decision to enter politics as the need of the hour on Monday. The cricketer will be contesting December 30 polls from his home town Narail in southwest Bangladesh on an Awami League ticket.

Mortaza’s decision to enter politics in a cricket-crazy country has received mixed reaction. Speaking for the first time since the announcement, the cricketer wrote on Facebook, “The tapping of politics was inside me. Because I always believed that the development of the country without politics is strongly not possible. I have played cricket, I have got your love. Otherwise, maybe I would have been lost in 2011. The love that I got from you in 2011, it has helped me to continue these seven years. This time the opportunity has been presented to me to do something for the people. I don’t even know what is waiting for me in the next four years of the World Cup. That’s why I have heard the call of time.”

The statement in Bengali further read, “I am not coming to politics to hit a person or a team. Many people are questioning why people like us enter politics! I know, as easy as it is, it is a very big challenge than to show the work. If I wanted, I could have been inside my own simple environment. But I dream, let the people of my area go forward to the way of prosperity. May the fireflies be spread on the people of Narail. I want rich Narail. As much pain as I am in that way, I will stay beside my beloved Narail.”

“I took my daughter to the biggest hospital in Bangkok before the week of buying nomination letter. But I thought afterwards that a common man is not being treated even when he is affected by many more critical diseases. I thought about the boys and girls who are not able to go to the doors of higher education from towns.”

“I believe, all the conscious, worthy and good people of Bangladesh should come in politics. Many people may not be able to get the courage. I think that the wall of mental obstacles needs to be broken. But I am truly thrilled to be the possibility of something new. I hope you will be able to do something like that, and look forward to thousands of and Mashrafes in the future.”

Mashrafe is likely to lead the Bangladesh cricket team in the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies on home soil starting December 9. The bowling all-rounder has already retired from Twenty20 international cricket and is yet to feature in a Test match since 2009.

Cricketers contesting elections in South Asia is not something new but it is rare for an active player to enter politics. Imran Khan, cricketer-turned-politician, earlier this year became the Prime Minister of Pakistan after his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, emerged as the largest in the country. Navjot Singh Sidhu is also a prominent figure in Indian politics and he serves as the Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, and Museums of the State of Punjab.

https://indianexpress.com/article/s...za-defends-decision-to-join-politics-5465442/

 

[gazza619]

So he will continue playing cricket? Interesting!

I guess its not impossible as he does not play tests. And politics itself is not a 9 to 5 full time job. Unless you are holding a big office with a lot of responsibility.

 

[Pakistanian]

"thousands of mashrafes in the future", that's such a vain thing to say.

 

[Markhor]

“I took my daughter to the biggest hospital in Bangkok before the week of buying nomination letter. But I thought afterwards that a common man is not being treated even when he is affected by many more critical diseases.

Sounds very IK-esque. BD posters - how good are his chances of being successful politically on the national level ?

 

[shaaik]

Has been a fighter on the field and is one the instrumental players who have helped Bangladesh to become a better ODI team over the years, Should do well in politics too.

 

[MenInG]

He may be Bangladesh's biggest cricket star, but Mashrafe Mortaza insists he is not another Imran Khan, Pakistan's cricketing superhero-turned-prime minister.

Contesting a seat in the national parliament for the ruling Awami League party in the December 30 elections, Mashrafe says he just wants to do more for sports and charity.

"To be honest, the level where Imran Khan has reached, people cannot always reach there even if they want to," Mashrafe told AFP in an interview.

"My desire is to do something for sports... since I am a sportsman, my wish is limited here. I will work for my region to see if I can do something good."

Mashrafe hails from the southwestern district of Narail where his charity Narail Express -- also the fast-bowler's nickname -- has donated ambulances to hospitals and high-yield rice seeds to farmers.

Turning to politics is nothing new for cricketers in South Asia, where the sport is massively popular.

But unusually, Mashrafe is still playing, captains Bangladesh in the one-day format of the game, and intends to lead the team at next year's World Cup.

Mashrafe has already retired from Twenty20 international cricket and has not played a Test match since 2009.

He may also have been upstaged in the hearts of the nation's cricket fans by his teammate Shakib Al Hasan, one of the world's leading all-rounders.

But Mashrafe's die-hard attitude off the pitch -- he has had seven operations on his knee -- and on-field expressions of patriotism could well endear him to voters.

He also won plaudits as captain, guiding the cricket minnows to their first World Cup quarter-final in 2015.

- 'Gutter-like' -

Still, when Mashrafe announced his decision to enter politics, many fans were openly critical.

Most of the comments on his social media fan pages are against him joining Bangladesh's "nasty" and "gutter-like" political arena.

Others criticised him for joining the party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been accused of jailing opponents and stifling dissent.

But Mashrafe insists that he will not be dragged down.

"All I can say from my position is the people who are in a different party or believe in a different political belief, I don't have any disrespect for them," he said.

"Even though I'm supporting my party wholeheartedly, I have 100 percent respect for them and will continue to have it.

"I'm saying this because every person has the right to support who they want to support. I can only respect the opposition from my heart, which I really do."

He also set the bar high for politicians.

"Politicians should be qualified and good human beings. I'm not saying I'm already one of them though. The young people are closely seeing our social decadence. I think they should also step into politics," he said.

https://www.france24.com/en/20181215-bangladeshs-mashrafe-harbours-no-imran-like-ambitions

 

[MenInG]

He may be Bangladesh's biggest cricket star, but Mashrafe Mortaza insists he is not another Imran Khan, Pakistan's cricketing superhero-turned-prime minister.

Contesting a seat in the national parliament for the ruling Awami League party in the December 30 elections, Mashrafe says he just wants to do more for sports and charity.

"To be honest, the level where Imran Khan has reached, people cannot always reach there even if they want to," Mashrafe told AFP in an interview.

"My desire is to do something for sports... since I am a sportsman, my wish is limited here. I will work for my region to see if I can do something good."

Mashrafe hails from the southwestern district of Narail where his charity Narail Express -- also the fast-bowler's nickname -- has donated ambulances to hospitals and high-yield rice seeds to farmers.

Turning to politics is nothing new for cricketers in South Asia, where the sport is massively popular.

But unusually, Mashrafe is still playing, captains Bangladesh in the one-day format of the game, and intends to lead the team at next year's World Cup.

Mashrafe has already retired from Twenty20 international cricket and has not played a Test match since 2009.

He may also have been upstaged in the hearts of the nation's cricket fans by his teammate Shakib Al Hasan, one of the world's leading all-rounders.

But Mashrafe's die-hard attitude off the pitch -- he has had seven operations on his knee -- and on-field expressions of patriotism could well endear him to voters.

He also won plaudits as captain, guiding the cricket minnows to their first World Cup quarter-final in 2015.

- 'Gutter-like' -

Still, when Mashrafe announced his decision to enter politics, many fans were openly critical.

Most of the comments on his social media fan pages are against him joining Bangladesh's "nasty" and "gutter-like" political arena.

Others criticised him for joining the party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been accused of jailing opponents and stifling dissent.

But Mashrafe insists that he will not be dragged down.

"All I can say from my position is the people who are in a different party or believe in a different political belief, I don't have any disrespect for them," he said.

"Even though I'm supporting my party wholeheartedly, I have 100 percent respect for them and will continue to have it.

"I'm saying this because every person has the right to support who they want to support. I can only respect the opposition from my heart, which I really do."

He also set the bar high for politicians.

"Politicians should be qualified and good human beings. I'm not saying I'm already one of them though. The young people are closely seeing our social decadence. I think they should also step into politics," he said.

https://www.france24.com/en/20181215-bangladeshs-mashrafe-harbours-no-imran-like-ambitions

So true about Imran Khan - the hard yards he has put in to get to where he is now is simply amazing

 

[Hasan2K8]

Good luck Mashrafe.

Always good to do something for your people be it regional, national or internationally. His doing it for his district Narail in future can do it for Khulna division itself then head for PM role, gets vote my vote.

 

[MenInG]

Bangladesh’s ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza has become a member of parliament in the recent elections, becoming the first ever cricketer in history to be a parliamentarian and cricketer simultaneously.

As per news wire agency ANI, Bangladesh ODI Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has contested from Narail 2 constituency on an Awami League ticket.

As per the latest information, Mashrafe has, in fact, won the seat and that too by a huge margin. He got 274,418 votes as against his nearest opponent who received just 8,006 votes, reported the Economic Times.

With this, he became the first active cricketer to become a Member of Parliament and the second national cricket team captain, after Naimur Rahman Durjoy, to enter the Parliament.

Polling in Bangladesh was held yesterday with incumbent Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured a fourth term with a landslide victory in polls amid controversies and allegations of rigging.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/20...ashrafe-registers-landslide-win-in-elections/

 

[Adijazz1706]

Theae margins are ridiculous )