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Getting into IPL stride

Sports Reporter
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is a special one in our country's cricket. His performance with Abahani in the ongoing Premier Division Cricket League once again proved why he is exceptional from other cricketers of his generation. Constantly living with a career-threatening injury and barred from bowling at any pace to heal his recurring back pain in the last four Premier League games, the Narail Express still played a major role in holding Abahani in pole position either with his off-spin or with the bat. His last knock against Mohammedan on Saturday that contained seven sixes can be best described as a perfect warm up for a bigger battle that he would embark on when the billion-dollar IPL starts in South Africa next month.
After leading Abahani close to retaining the title, the brave-heart cricketer is now
looking forward to win the hearts of his Kolkata Knight Riders employers, who bought the Bangladesh vice-captain with a stunning sum of 600,000 dollars.
"1 am hopeful that I can prove my worth in this competition if I am fit. You know I
MASHRAFE BIN MORTAZA
bowled off-spin in the last few league matches because of my old back pain and did an MR1 today. Hope everything would
be okay before start of the tournament," said Mashrafe yesterday, the Abahani captain who was advised by the national team physio Michael Henry not to play any further matches in the league.
Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders snapped up the Bangladesh pace-spearhead in a sensational bidding battle of the IPL auction last February.
"1 know it's a challenge for me to prove that the sensation unfolded for my possession in the bidding was not a fluke. I have had a very good preparation in the league. I took a lot of wickets and have scored some quick runs although I know in the IPL it would be a different ball game," said Mashrafe.*
The second version of the IPL will kick off on April 18 in Cape Town with Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals pitting against Bangalore Royal Challengers in the opening double-header.
Mashrafc's Kolkata KnightFROM PAGE 17
Riders will play their first match on the following day against Deccan Chargers.
Mashrafc has already got the call to join his team but is yet to fix the date to fly to India and sign the contract.
"Hopefully within three-four days I will leave Dhaka to join the team in India," Mashrafc informed.
He was however disappointed with the IPL being moved to South Africa from India.
"I have lots of friends and fans in India and that's why I was so excited will) die IPL deal I loved the atmosphere in Kolkata and tin- people who
loved a Bangladeshi cricketer. But unfortunately it's not happening this time," he said adding that he never liked a trip to South Africa where he suffered his first major knee Injury during the 2003World Cup.
"I never felt comfortable in South Africa during my visits with the national team. Still I have the self-belief that I can overcome all odds this time," he hoped.
Captain Mohammad Ashraful is the other Bangladeshi player who is all set to play this season's IPL but it was yet to be confirmed when the Tigers skipper would join his team Mumbai Indians, "There is a chance to fly to India in the first week of April but it's yet to be confirmed. I have talked with my team manager (Rahul Sanghvi) recently and he said that they will let me know the schedule soon," said Ashraful.