Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s house set ablaze amid nationwide protests – Reports

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s house was put on fire by miscreants amid nationwide protests in the country on Monday, August 5, as per the Dhaka Tribune. Mortaza, who retired from international cricket in 2020, serves as a Member of Parliament of Narail-2 district.

The 40-year-old, one of the most successful Bangladesh captains of all time, entered politics during the 2018 Bangladeshi general election. In December of that year, he won a parliamentary seat with 96 percent votes in his favor.

In February 2019, Mortaza became a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Youth and Sports Ministry. He also served as the youth and sports secretary of Bangladesh Awami League since December 2022.

Bangladesh political crisis - What you need to know?

The development comes as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after hundreds of people were killed amid widespread protests by students against job quotas. She is currently in India and is seeking asylum in the UK, as per ANI.

According to Reuters, the violence in Bangladesh erupted after students protested against quotas for jobs in some public sectors for the families of veterans of the country’s 1971 independence war. Around 250 people have been killed and thousands injured in this campaign to overthrow PM Hasina out of power.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Rahman announced PM Hasina’s resignation in a televised address to the nation. He also claimed a new interim government would be formed soon.

PM Sheikh Hasina and cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza worked for the same party - Awami League.

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Mashrafe Mortaza’s career in numbers

Mashrafe Mortaza has played 36 Tests, 220 ODIs, and 54 T20Is, picking up 390 wickets across formats. He has the second most wickets for Bangladesh in ODIs, only behind Shakib Al Hasan (317*). With the bat, he scored 2961 runs, including four half-centuries.

As a captain, Mortaza led Bangladesh to 10 wins in 28 T20Is, 50 wins in 88 ODIs, and a Test win. No other Bangladesh captain has managed as many wins as Mortaza in the 50-over format. Habibul Bashar and Shakib are second and third with 29 and 27 wins, respectively.

Apart from internationals, Mortaza has also played in Indian Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. The medium pacer bagged 170 wickets in 190 T20s.