Bangladesh’s Mortaza wary of ‘extra pressure’

DHAKA: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that he wouldn’t concentrate on personal milestones to avoid “any extra pressure” at the ICC World Cup 2019, but believes his team can do “something extraordinary”.The 35-year-old confirmed the 2019 World Cup would be his last, but that doesn’t mean he will attach more weight to the tournament and heap pressure on himself. Instead, he will consider it as “just another big tournament”.“This is definitely my last World Cup,” he said. “I have to perform as a player, and of course, my role as captain is going to be important too. I have to fulfill my duties, but there’s nothing more I can do. I don’t have any personal goals. I never want to take any extra pressure.“I am a believer in luck, so what is meant to happen, will happen. It’s also not that I will do any extra preparation. It’s just another big tournament for us and we want to play well to make it memorable,” he said.Mushfiqur Rahim, the wicket-keeper batsman, recently said this Bangladesh squad was the best they have sent to a World Cup. Mortaza remains wary of such claims, though, and pointed out that their squads that contested the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and Asia Cup 2018 were similar.The World Cup, beginning on May 30, will involve each team playing the other nine participants, with the top four sides qualifying for the semi-finals.

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