How will BPL tackle the Mortaza problem?

Mashrafe Mortaza has come under the firing line during BPL 2024. The veteran, who last played a competitive game in May 2023, has struggled with his fitness. The eternal knee injury hasn't helped and it reduced him to bowling from just three steps. Mortaza's participation at a time when he is clearly past his prime has come in for sharp criticism from Mohammad Ashraful.

Ashraful, who had recently made a name as a TV analyst following his stints with T-Sports during the World Cup, insisted that Mortaza is diminishing the standard of BPL by taking part in the ongoing edition despite being unfit to play a tournament of this stature.

During Rangpur Riders' opening game of the season against Chattogram Challengers, the 40-year-old got a wicket with his first ball but it also raised a few eyebrows due to his shortened run-up. It prompted Sri Lankan commentator Russell Arnold to say that he was not sure whether Mortaza was bowling medium pace or off-spin. Apart from the obvious fitness concerns, the argument against Mortaza is that he is taking up the spot of a potential youngster.

"He (Mortaza) got a wicket with his first delivery. Actually when a young player faces him, they are in doubt about whether to hit him or not since getting out becomes a matter of prestige. Maybe that's why they don't play freely," Ashraful explained while talking with the broadcasters on Tuesday.

"Actually, he [Mortaza] didn't want to play but the owners wanted him just to be present on the field. I feel that it's belittling the tournament. This kind of tournament is watched all over the world," he said adding that he feels he is stopping young pace bowler like Rejaur Rahman Raja to flourish.

"Here we will see our future stars. There is a World Cup in six months and they have Rejaur Rahman Raja in the side, who is sitting in the sidelines. He [Raja] had a chance to do well in this tournament to make a place in the World Cup. That's missing," he added.

Mortaza admitted that his participation in the BPL is not ideal during the post match press conference after their loss to Rangpur Riders, a game where he did not bowl a single delivery.

"You cannot explain everything every time. So, what I feel that it's not an ideal situation for me," Mashrafe told reporters when his attention was drawn regarding Ashraful's remark.

"Yes, that's obvious [passion and love]. But to be very honest in an ideal situation it's better if it doesn't happen. But many things can't be explained. Ideally maybe... I am mostly alright but the knee problem is problematic even though it's small," he said.

"Whether playing someone would make things better is up to the team. Maybe instead of playing him (Raja) someone else could be played. That's a different thing. The team won't discuss with anyone about whether playing someone would be good. But as you said, in an ideal situation, that is what should have happened (Raja playing since Mash isn't able to bowl)," he said, who has been struggling with his fitness after having returned to cricket following an eight-month gap.

It looks all but certain that this BPL might be the last season of Mortaza in competitive cricket. Whether Mortaza can shine and say a final goodbye remains to be seen but the first two games do not indicate that he still has the body and strength to face the heat of competitive cricket played in the shortest format.